Appendix 2 Response by Scottish Borders Council to the Payphones

Appendix 2

Response by Scottish Borders Council to the Payphones Closure Consultation

The consultation process being carried out by British Telecom has indicated that there are currently 46 public payphones which are little used by consumers and are proposed for closure. In addition it is understood that there was one additional payphone in the Newcastleton area that was included in the list of payphone closures for North Cumbria.

Payphones provide an important communications ‘safety net’ for individuals within communities in the Scottish Borders. This is especially the case where: x There is restricted mobile phone coverage by the four national mobile phone operators (which is a major concern), x There are tourists or visitors passing through country areas and where there maybe a need communicate problems resulting from accidents, crime or other issues x There is social need.

The payphones most affected by these criteria are shown below. All of these are in social need. There is also reference to payphones where particular concerns have been raised by communities. It is the Council’s view that all of the payphones referred to below should be kept open.

Restricted Mobile Coverage In Relation to National Mobile Telephone Operators

x Pco, Longformacus, Duns TD11 3PE - Tel No 01361 890220 (representation from the Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council on this proposed closure) x Pco, (Ellemford, Longformacus) Duns TD11 3SG – Tel 01361 890270 (representation from the Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council on this proposed closure) x Pco1 Craik, Hawick TD9 7PS – Tel 01450 880232 (representation from Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Community Council on this proposed closure.) - Craik is a forest area. The payphone is located in close proximity to an outdoor centre, mountain biking facility, holiday log cabins and a forest operation. Also there is a strong view that it should be converted to coin operation and cleaned on a regular basis x Pco1, Belford on Bowmont, Kelso TD5 8PY – Tel 01573 420213 (representation from Yetholm Community Council on this proposed closure). It is the only phone box on a seven mile stretch of the Bowmont Valley which is ‘cut off’ by be affected by flooding. It is also used by walkers who support employment in the area. This part of the valley is a mobile phone black spot, so there is no alternative for walkers. x Teviotdale Telephone Exchange, Mossyknowe, Hawick TD9 OLE – Tel 01450 850220 (representation from Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Community Council on this proposed closure) there is little or no mobile phone signal along the A7 between Langholm and Hawick and this is the only phone on the Scottish Borders stretch. x Pco at Newcastleton (representation from the local community on this proposed closure). This payphone provides a lifeline service. It is not one of the 46 in the Scottish Borders, but was included in the list of payphone closures for North Cumbria. x Pco, Hownam, Kelso TD5 8AL – Tel 01573 440274 x Pco, Mellerstain, Gordon TD3 6LG – Tel 01573 410252 x Pco, Cessford, Kelso TD5 8EG – Tel 01573 440216 x Pco, Tweedsmuir, Biggar ML12V 6QS – Tel 01899 880251 x Pco, (Crailing Hall), Jedburgh, TD8 6LU – Tel 01835 850247 x Pco, Oxnam Mains, Jedburgh TD8 6LZ – Tel 01835 863360 x Pco, (Legerwood Farm), Earlston TD4 6AS – Tel 01896 848833 x Pco, Bedrule Farm, Hawick TD9 8TE – Tel 01450 870211 x Pco, Mossburnford, Jedburgh TD8 6QS – Tel 01835 840242 x Pco, (Polwarth), Greenlaw, Duns TD10 6YR – Tel 01361 882390 x Pco, Smailholm, Kelso TD5 7PH – Tel 01573 460220 x Pco, Sandystones, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire TD8 6UP – Tel 01835 830362 x Pco, Station Cottages, Chirnside, Duns TD11 3LQ – Tel 01890 818270 x Pco, Telephone Exhange, Main Street, Whitsome, Duns TD11 3NB – Tel 01890 870217 x Pco, Lower Burnmouth, Burnmouth, TD14 5SP – Tel 01890 781376

Payphones located in key Visitor areas, particularly in close proximity to a national or regional long distance walk, concentrated tourism locations or tourist road route.

x Pco, Bridge Street, Coldingham, Eyemouth TD14 5NG – Tel 01890 771399 Coldingam is a seaside beach area and a popular destination for tourists in the South East of Scotland and is located on the Berwickshire Coastal Path. (representation by Coldingham Community Council on this proposed closure). x Pco, Cockburnspath, TD13 5YR – Tel 01361 830264. Cockburnspath is at the end of the Southern Upland Way walking route. x Pco1 Craik, Hawick TD9 7PS – Tel 01450 880232. Craik is a forest area. The payphone is located in close proximity to an outdoor centre, mountain biking facility, holiday log cabins and a forest operation. (representation from Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Community Council on this proposed closure) – strong view that it should be converted to coin operation and cleaned x Teviotdale Telephone Exchange, Mossyknowe, Hawick TD9 OLE – Tel 01450 850220 (representation from Upper Teviotdale and Borthwick Community Council on this proposed closure) x Pco1, Belford on Bowmont, Kelso TD5 8PY – Tel 01573 420213. This payphone is located close to the end of the Pennine Way and the St Cuthbert Way) (representation from Yetholm Community Council on this proposed closure). It is the only phone box on a seven mile stretch of the Bowmont Valley which is cut off by flooding quite often. It is also used by walkers who provide a lot of employment in the area. This part of the valley is a mobile phone black spot, so there is no alternative for walkers. x Pco, Hownam, Kelso TD5 8AL – Tel 01573 440274. This payphone is located close to the end of the Pennine Way walking route. x Po Box at Newcastleton (representation from the local community on this proposed closure). This is not one of the 46 in the Scottish Borders, but was included in the list of payphone closures for North Cumbria. This is a remote area used by walkers, mountain bikers and other outdoor activities and is close to the Keilder Forest area. x Pco, Cessford, Kelso TD5 8EG – Tel 01573 440216. This payphone is located close to the St Cuthbert Way walking route) x Pco, Longformacus, Duns TD11 3PE - Tel No 01361 890220. This payphone is located close to the Southern Upland Way walking route. (representation from the Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council on this proposed closure). x Pco, (Ellemford, Longformacus) Duns TD11 3SG – Tel 01361 890270. This payphone is located close to the Southern Upland Way walking route. (representation from the Cranshaws, Ellemford and Longformacus Community Council on this proposed closure) x Pco, (Crailing Hall), Jedburgh, TD8 6LU – Tel 01835 850247. This payphone is located close to the St Cuthbert Way walking route. x Pco, Lower Burnmouth, Burnmouth, TD14 5SP – Tel 01890 781376 Payphone located in coastal village visited by tourists and on Berwickshire Coastal Path). x Pco, Bedrule Farm, Hawick TD9 8TE – Tel 01450 870211. Located close to Borders Abbeys Way walking route. x Pco, Broughton, Biggar ML12 6JD – Tel 01899830214. Broughton is on the John Buchan Way walking route and is a popular destination for tourists, and is on a tourist road route. x Stobo Railway Station, Peebles EH45 8NX – Tel 01721 760233. This payphone is located close to the John Buchan Way walking route. x Pco, Cauldmill, Hawick TD9 8LH – Tel 01450 370550. Located close to Borders Abbeys Way walking route. x Pco Wellogate Brae, Hawick TD9 9NE – Tel 01450 370591. Located close to Borders Abbey Way walking route. x Pco, Edinburgh Road, Lauder TD2 6TW – Tel 01578 722319. Located next to the main A68 tourist route passing through the Borders, and on the route of the Southern Uplands Way walking route. x 1pco, Clintmains, St Boswells, Melrose TD6 ODY – Tel 01835 822799. Located close the Borders Abbeys Way walking route. x Pco, Main Street, Newstead, Melrose TD6 9RR – Tel 01896 822625. Located close the Borders Abbeys Way walking route. x Pco (Junction A7) Galashiels TD1 3PA – Tel 0175020771. Located on A7 tourist road route x Pco, Tweedsmuir, Biggar ML12V 6QS – Tel 01899 880251. Located close to the main A701 tourist road route. x 1pco Edinburgh Road, Peebles EH45 8EA – Tel 01721720809. This payphone is on a main road route to Edinburgh used by visitors to Peebles and the Scottish Borders. x Pco, Smailholm, Kelso TD5 7PH – Tel 01573 460220. This payphone is located close a famous tourist attraction in the Scottish Borders. x Pco, Mellerstain, Gordon TD3 6LG – Tel 01573 410252. This payphone is located to Mellerstain House which is an important tourist attraction and holds major tourists events during the year.

Other Social Need

Apart from those payphones listed above there are a number of other payphones which are located in villages and rural settlements whose residents would be adversely affected if their payphones were closed. These are: x Pco Granthouse, Duns TD10 6YR – Tel 01361 850226 x Pco, (A6105, Foulden) Berwick Upon Tweed TD15 1UH – Tel 01289386392 x Pco, Hume, Kelso TD5 7TR – Tel 01573 470282 x Pco, Stichill, Kelso TD5 7TA – Tel 01573 470272 x Pco, Braeside, Romanno Bridge, West Linton EH46 7BZ – Tel 01968660279 x 1 pco Horsburgh Ford, (Cardrona), Peebles EH45 8NE – Tel 01721720302 x Pco, Fountainhall, Galashiels, Selkirkshire TD1 2SY – Tel 01578760220 x Pco (Fogo Village), Duns TD11 3PP – Tel 01890 840328 x Pco Redpath, Earlston TD4 6AD – Tel 01896848832 x Pco Auchencrow, Eyemouth TD14 5LS – Tel 01890761260 x Pco Bloomfield, Jedburgh TD8 6UW – Tel 01835 830260 x Pco, Fans Farm, Earlston TD4 6BD – Tel 01573410234 x Huxton Farm TD14 5TT – Tel 01890771311 x Pco (simprim), Coldstream TD12 4HG – Tel 01890860240 x 1pco, Horsburgh Ford, Peebles EH45 8NX – Tel 01721720302 x Mossyknowe, Hawick TD9 OLE – Tel 01450850220 x 1pco Edrom Village, Duns TD11 3EA – Tel 01890 818263

Finally a number of communities, including Redpath Village Hall Association, have expressed concern about losing their red telephone boxes which are regarded as important elements in their villages and settlements. It is considered that where a closure is to take place involving a red telephone box this should be offered to the local community.