Public payphone offered to Sidmouth Town Council for £1 - Offer rejected

A Sidmouth telephone box may now be removed after the town council decided not to buy the phone box from British Telecom for £1.

East Devon District Council was recently contacted by British Telecom on proposals to remove 11 public payphones across the district.

One of the payphones included is located at Connaught Gardens, Peak Hill Road.

The consultation process also gives the local community the opportunity to adopt phone boxes so they can be turned into community assets. In other parts of East Devon traditional red phone boxes have been adapted to house community libraries and defibrillators.

This evening (December 6) Sidmouth Town Council discussed whether it wished to object to the removal of the payphone box or adopt it for £1.

Sidmouth Town Council Chair Ian Barlow told his fellow councillors that the payphone in question is not a traditional red phone box but a more modern plastic and glass design.

"It has been suggested to me that it might be a good place for a defibrillator," suggested Mr Barlow.

Councillor Louise Thompson said: "I think if we remove the phone box we should replace it with a tree or some planting."

Another suggestion, from councillor Louise Cole, was for the phone box to be replaced with 'a fancy water fountain'.

After a short debate the council voted not to object to the removal of the phone box.