Campaign to save telephone boxes

The council has been given extra time for consultation

A campaign is under way to save 35 red telephone boxes in part of Sussex.

Wealden council said BT had earmarked 44 for closure across the district, and the authority wanted 35 of them kept.

Councillor Roy Galley said many members of the public and parish and town councils were concerned about the loss of emergency telephone cover.

He also said the kiosks were "a well-loved part of the rural landscape". BT said the boxes could be kept for "aesthetic or heritage reasons".

BT also said that councils wanting to contribute to maintenance costs to retain a red box with a working telephone would be accommodated.

More information

A statement from the company said: "During the consultation process around removing unprofitable payphones, a number of suggestions have been voiced by local people and local government.

"We have listened to these suggestions."

Wealden council said it was calling for 35 out of 44 to be saved, and had asked for information about two more.

The authority also said the council had been given extra time for consultation because of uncertainty about details of some of the boxes earmarked for closure.

The council wants any responses to be sent in by 17 October so they can be sent to BT.