Britain's distinctive telephone boxes, victims of the growth of cellular technology, may be "adopted" by locals instead of removed. For just £1—and a promise to maintain them in perpetuity—town councils can assume ownership of the red booths, which are often part of an area's distinctive character for decades.
A spokesman for BT 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 and can now confirm that local authorities that wish to maintain red telephone boxes - minus the telephone equipment - for aesthetic or heritage reasons will be able to do so.
"In addition, local authorities that have requested to contribute to maintenance costs to retain a red telephone box with a working telephone will also be accommodated."
Of the 95,000 that were in Britain at their peak, facilitating calls by day and roaming the dales at night in search of prey, only 66,000 remain. Two thirds, according to operator British Telecom, are unprofitable.
Photos: Ulleskelf and Nathan Messer
Red telephone boxes could be saved by adoption scheme
