Victory on Boscastle call box
North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, says local residents, shopkeepers and the Parish Council have won a famous victory in Boscastle, following BT’s announcement that it will reinstate their much missed callbox.
The traditional red phone box was washed away in floods more than three years ago. The village was left without any public phone, so people had to traipse some three quarters of a mile up a steep hill to make a call, since the area has little or no mobile signal on most networks.
Mr Rogerson campaigned with local people to see Boscastle’s phone box replaced, calling a series of meetings with senior BT staff. The local MP collected more than 200 signatures in the village, with help of local retailers, and presented these to BT. The company now promises that new payphones will be in operation by February 8th.
Commenting, Mr Rogerson said:
“Residents, shopkeepers and visitors alike all felt extremely strongly that the village was in need of proper call box facilities once again.
“BT had stalled on this but I’ve been pleased with their prompt response to my requests for meetings and the positive approach they have taken.
“Their statement this week contains just the promise we’ve been looking for. I will be coming to the village soon to see that it is put in action.”
Note: BT have released the following statement:We have carried out a thorough review of the future payphone requirements for this part of Boscastle, including taking into account the views of the local community. We will be restoring the payphone at the Gateway building, which was temporarily removed as part of the redevelopment works, and installing a traditional K6 red payphone at Old Road near the bridge, which replaces a nearby kiosk washed away in the floods. These payphones will be working by Friday February 8, if not before
