Some of Wales鈥 iconic red phone boxes are being given the chance for a new lease of life. BT has said 77 of its underused kiosks across Wales are up for adoption as their use has been overtaken by mobile phones.
Communities in Wales have the chance to take on a kiosk for just 拢1, as part of the telecom giant鈥檚 kiosk adoption scheme, and transform them into other purposes. Redundant phone boxes have been adopted and turned into a range of facilities over the years, from defibrillator units and libraries, to mini art galleries and local museums.
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The red kiosks currently available to adopt in Welsh council areas are:
There are around 850 remaining working payphones across Wales, 260 of which are in traditional red kiosks. Since BT introduced its Adopt a Kiosk programme in 2008, more than 500 phone boxes in Wales have been adopted by communities.
One red phone box in Rowen, Conwy, was adopted in 2013 by the village鈥檚 Memorial Hall committee. It was turned into a defibrillator site, book exchange, information point for local events and for tourists and even seed swap.
The kiosks can be adopted by registered charities, community councils and local authorities. They can also be adopted by individuals who have a payphone on their own land.
BT said it will continue to provide electricity (if already in place) to power the light for adopted phone boxes, free of charge.
Michael Smy, BT鈥檚 head of street, said: 鈥淲ith the vast majority of people now using mobile phones, and significant improvements to mobile coverage across the 海角视频, we鈥檝e continued to see a big drop in the number of calls made from payphones.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we鈥檙e continuing to review our payphones estate, making sure we're prioritising the removal of those not being used, in line with Ofcom鈥檚 latest guidance.
鈥淲ith the iconic red kiosk about to turn 100, it's a great opportunity to remind communities that would still like to retain their local kiosk to take it on for just 拢1 through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme. We鈥檝e already seen some great kiosk conversions across the 海角视频 that have become valuable community assets.鈥
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