BT payphone removal survey: March 2025

Survey closes: Tuesday 15 April 2025
Survey opened: Tuesday 25 March 2025

We have received a notice from British Telecom (BT) informing us that it has identified 10 public payphones in Central Bedfordshire that are no longer needed.

BT has evaluated these payphones based on the criteria outlined in Ofcom's review of the telephony universal service obligation.

This states that payphones cannot be removed if it is the last remaining in an area and it meets one or more of the following criteria:  

• it is in a place without coverage from all four mobile network providers
• it is located in an area with a high frequency of accidents or suicides
• it has made 52 or more calls over the past 12 months
• or there is other evidence that the box is reasonably needed at the site – for example if it is likely to be relied upon in the event of a local emergency, such as flooding, or if it is used to call helplines

Read Ofcom's guidance (PDF) for further information around the criteria.

Notices have been affixed to these payphones by BT, and we're expected to provide a formal response to BT's notice by 24 May.

In the past, if we expressed opposition to BT's plan to remove a payphone, BT couldn't proceed with the removal. However, the guidelines have been updated, and our ability to veto such removals has been removed.

As we no longer hold decision-making authority in this matter, we are unable to conduct a formal consultation. Instead, we are conducting an engagement survey to gather the opinions of local communities regarding BT’s proposals. This survey will help us gather evidence to shape our response to BT.