BT sells red phone boxes in East Riding
Communities can buy them for £1.
Last updated 17th Mar 2021
BT has put 28 red phone boxes up for adoption in East Yorkshire, with communities invited to take them on for just £1.
The telecommunications company’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme has seen almost 4,000 of its red phone boxes, once a staple of British high streets, go up for sale.
BT has offered communities the chance to transform the boxes, which have fallen out of use since the rise of mobile phones.
BT’s Enterprise unit director for the North of England, Sarah Walker, said communities had already come up with “thousands” of ideas to bring the boxes back to life.
It comes as 443 phone boxes have been given to communities under the Adopt a Kiosk scheme since 2008 and transformed into book exchanges, museums, art galleries and defibrillators.
The 28 available in Hull and the East Riding are among 330 currently up for grabs in Yorkshire and the Humber.
The BT enterprise unit director said:
“With most people now using mobile phones, it’s led to a huge drop in the number of calls made from payphones.
“At the same time, mobile coverage has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in masts, particularly in rural areas.
“We’re currently rationalising our payphone estate to make it fit for the future, and the Adopt a Kiosk scheme makes it possible for local communities in Yorkshire and The Humber to retain their local phone box, with a refreshed purpose for the community.
““Thousands of communities have already come up with a fantastic array of ideas to re-use their beloved local phone box.
“Applying is quick and easy and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our phone boxes.”
BT has also converted around 400 of its phone boxes into ‘Street Hubs’, fitting them out with free public WiFi, calls and charging for USB devices.
A BT spokesperson said all adoption requests would be considered, but some may be refused including if the box in question is to be used for another purpose.
The red phone boxes up for grabs in Bridlington:
Junction For St John Street, Baylegate.
Main Street, Carnaby.
Market Place.
For more information visit: https://www.bt.com/adopt.