Burstow meets with BT officials to discuss plans to cut payphones

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 20th Oct 2004

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, has met with officials from BT to discuss his concerns and objections of their plans to remove payphones from outside Wilkinson's store in Sutton town centre and Cheam village.

Paul Burstow met with Tim Ferguson, Head of Sales and Marketing for BT and Tim O'Sullivan, Head of BT's Public Affairs, last week to continue to pressure the company to withdraw its plans. They promised to provide Mr Burstow with more details on why the payphone outside Lloyds Bank in Cheam is not required by the local community.

BT is planning the removal of seven payphones across the area -including three on Sutton High Street alone - because of decreasing profit margins due to the increased use of mobile phones.

Paul Burstow MP expressed concerns about impact the plans:

"Payphones provide a vital lifeline to many people who do not have mobile phones. These plans pose the greatest concern to vulnerable groups, for example the elderly who are much less likely to carry mobile phones and raise serious concerns for the safety of young people out late at night trying to arrange transport home from the town centre.

"BT must provide clear evidence about the location and number of alternative payphones, so that local people can be reassured that their there is another phone nearby when they need it most."