Town's red phone box is up for adoption

BT's red phone boxes in Newtown and throughout Montgomeryshire are being offered to the local community for adoption at £1 a box.

The telephone company is offering communities the opportunity to use them for a range of uses, such as in Montgomery where one has been turned into a tourist information centre by the town council.

Telephone boxes, such as the one in Back Lane and others in Montgomeryshire are being offered as part of the scheme.

"The Adopt a Kiosk scheme has been successful in transforming unused payphone kiosks and preserves the heritage of the red kiosk, particularly in rural locations. We allow red kiosks to be adopted, subject to certain criteria such as low use and those not required for our own future plans," said a BT spokesperson.

Individuals cannot adopt them, but organisations such as Newtown Town Council, registered charities or a private landowner who has one on their land can.

The phone box in Montgomery provides a range of information leaflets for visitors. Other uses have been for housing defibrillators and other medical help. Some provide community and other information.

Photo: The BT phone box in Back Lane, Newtown