BT consults on removal of 110 Highland pay phones

BT has launched a consultation on plans to remove 110 public pay phones in the Highlands.

The telecoms giant said the phones were no longer needed because so few calls were made from them, and there was adequate mobile coverage available.

Highland Council has encouraged communities to comment on the plans before the consultation closes on 15 July.

The sites include Milnafua, Helmsdale’s Simpson Crescent, Canalside in Fort Augustus and The Pier, Kyleakin.

A handful of the pay phones, including one in Roag, Skye, and another in Ardersier’s High Street, have had no calls from them in the past year.

The site with the highest number of calls made over 12 months was Kinlochbervie with 42.

Highland Council said people should give BT as much information as possible in their responses.

It said this would help guide the final decision on whether a phone should be removed or not.

The local authority has published the full list of 110 sites.

BT assessed the sites against criteria set by communications watchdog Ofcom.