COMMUNICATIONS giant BT are in talks with Sedgemoor District Council to remove 41 payphones from the district due to a decline in their use.

BT are currently consulting with local authorities on proposals to remove 300 payphones across Somerset which they believe are no longer needed as reports suggest that payphone usage is continuing to decline by more than 20 per cent a year.

There are currently more than 650 payphones in Somerset and 86 payphones in Sedgemoor District with BT consulting with the local authority over 41 of them with 2 in Burnham on Sea and Highbridge and 7 in Bridgwater.

A spokesman for BT made a statement: "BT is committed to providing a public payphone service, but with usage declining by over 90 per cent in the last decade we’ve continued to review and remove payphones which are no longer needed.

"Any removal of payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of local authorities.

"In all instances where there’s no other payphone within 400 metres, we’ll ask for consent from the local authority to remove the payphone.

"Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won’t remove the payphone.

"As an alternative to removal, we will continue to actively promote the adopt a Kiosk scheme to all councils whilst being committed to maintaining the payphones that remain."

Wes Hinckes, District Councillor for Bridgwater Hamp said that he was sad that the plans may go ahead and worried about the effects it could have.

" I think there are two stories here which are both important.

"First, that phone boxes will disappear from our streets and they are classic and iconic structures that should not disappear completely.

" Second, the problem is that people have mobile phones, they think they have got enough credit or money for calls but people who are on benefits for example who may not be able to keep up paying for a phone.

"In an emergency situation, if you are stranded on the side of the street, a phone box can be a lifeline.

"It is free to call people and for people who do not have a lot of money or who are stranded this can be really helpful."