News / Cheltenham Road
Calls to remove ‘eyesore’ phone box
BT say they will be investigating an “eyesore” telephone box that a local councillor blames for contributing to a range of antisocial activities in his ward.
The phone box on Cheltenham Road close to its junction with Stokes Croft has been missing a door for around a decade.
Cotham councillor Mohamed Makawi says that the “outdated and neglected BT phone box has become a magnet for antisocial behaviour”.
is needed now More than ever
Makawi said: “This phone box is no longer the communication lifeline it once was but rather an eyesore contributing to a range of issues, from public urination and drug-related activities to graffiti and tagging.”
The Green Party councillor says he has received numerous complaints from residents about the state of the phone box, which he says “instead of serving the community, now detracts from the area, posing both safety and aesthetic challenges”.
Makawi is now appealing to BT to accelerate the removal of this and other obsolete phone boxes across Bristol “and prioritise restoring public spaces to ensure they are clean, safe and fit for purpose”.
Mohamed Makawi says the neglected state of the phone box on Cheltenham Road “is a blight on Cotham and a disservice to its residents” – photo: Mohamed Makawi
A BT spokesperson said: “We appreciate this being brought to our attention, and we will investigate as soon as possible.
“We review payphones to see whether underused kiosks can be removed.
“To maintain the viability of our public telephone network, we’re also looking to determine which of our underused public payphones are still needed or to be changed into Street Hubs.
“This particular payphone is being looked at for incorporation in future Street Hub plans, and the date when this is going to go ahead is to be confirmed.”
The phone box is close to Cheltenham Road’s junction with Stokes Croft – photo: Martin Booth
The BT spokesperson added: “If there are concerns about the appearance of payphone kiosks or suspected damage, we would encourage members of the public to report this to us and allow us carry out a cleaning process and ensure the kiosks are presentable and functional for communities.
“Issues regarding antisocial behaviour towards payphone kiosks should be reported to the local police, and any damage to these items needs to be reported to BT.”
The phone box has been missing a door for around a decade – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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