Council objects to phone box plan

The council said call boxes could be a lifeline for rural communities

Stirling Council is objecting to British Telecom plans to remove 11 call boxes from across the council area.

Concerns over the impact of the move on rural communities prompted the council to embark on a public consultation exercise in April.

The authority's executive committee said numerous letters of objection from members of the public had been received in protest at the proposals.

BT has said it would not scrap call boxes where there was a social need.

The plans have also prompted objections from Croftamie Community Council and the Ashfield Village Association.

Jim Thomson, executive member with portfolio for the environment, said: "Public call boxes provide a lifeline for communities and it is vital that this service is preserved.

"Mobile phone coverage is also variable in many areas and therefore cannot be relied on as an alternative to call boxes.

"It is for these reasons that we must oppose the removal of these call boxes."

The phone boxes affected are at Cotton Street in Balfron, Croftamie, Dumbrock Road in Strathblane, Rowardennan, Morrison Drive in Bannockburn, Milton Brae in Stirling, Main Street in Kinbuck, The Square in Ashfield, Balkerach Street in Doune, Inversnaid and Kinlochard.