BT has announced plans to scrap 110 public payphones across the Highlands.
A consultation is now underway to gather public views before final decisions are made.
The telecoms giant says the boxes are no longer necessary.
BT claims it has assessed the phones using Ofcom’s official guidelines.
Each payphone’s usage and location have been evaluated against national criteria.
The Highland Council is urging people to speak out and share their views.
Locals are being encouraged to provide specific examples of why a phone box should stay.
Rural communities are likely to be most affected by the planned cuts.
Some of these boxes may be lifelines in areas with poor mobile coverage.
Many are also important for vulnerable residents or emergency use.
The Council has made clear that it will not be coordinating responses on this occasion.
Instead, individuals are being told to contact BT directly with their concerns.
Submissions should be made by email to btp.authorisation.team@bt.com.
The deadline for public input is 15 July 2025.
After this, BT will review all representations before making a final call.
They have pledged to publish their decisions and rationale on their website.
A full list of the proposed closures can be accessed via BT’s payphone service page.
This wave of removals reflects changing habits and declining payphone use.
However, Highland communities may still rely on these services more than urban areas.
The consultation is a chance for voices to be heard before the phone boxes vanish.
Every story and comment could influence which payphones are spared.
Residents are being reminded that once removed, the boxes may not return.
Preserving them now could be vital for future safety and access.
Time is ticking, and the public have just over two months to respond.
BT has made similar proposals across other parts of the UK in recent years.
Yet each area must make its own case based on local need.
If a payphone matters to your village or town, now is the time to say so.
Silence may be taken as agreement to remove it.
The future of Highland payphones now depends on the strength of public response.
