Phone box larder at risk
PLANS to remove a phone box have caused dismay after it became a lifeline for residents during lockdown.
The phone box, in Brighton Grove, in Arthur’s Hill in Newcastle, has been operating as a community larder and providing free food for people throughout the pandemic.
It has been continuously stocked with food by members of the Arthur’s Hill and Elswick Mutual Aid group and can be accessed by the community at any time.
But now BT is considering removing the phone box as their research shows the payphone “doesn’t get used very much now”.
Elgan John, who helped to set up the community larder, said: “We know the community larder has helped a lot of people through lockdown.
“It is stocked by the group, as well as local businesses and the community – it really has brought a community together.”
He added: “The food goes straight to people in food poverty and has provided a lifeline to those in need of it, without any possibility for exclusionary practices or embarrassment.”
The Arthur’s Hill and Elswick Mutual Aid group set up the community larder during the first Covid lockdown to help feed anyone who may be struggling to afford food.
It has provided immediate access to food, helped people who may be embarrassed to ask for help, and provided a helping hand to people who need short-term support.
But a poster recently appeared in the phone box to say that BT is considering removing the payphone.
The poster reads: “Our research shows that this payphone doesn’t get used very much now, so we think it might be time to take it away.
“Alternatively, you might like to adopt a kiosk. Some communities have turned theirs into a defibrillator point, a library or even a miniature art gallery.”
Arthur’s Hill and Elswick Mutual Aid said they have enquired about adopting the phone box, which costs £1, however the Adopt a Kiosk scheme is only available for red phone boxes to ‘preserve the heritage of the red kiosk.’
The group gained permission from BT in April 2020 to use the phone box, as well as a second phone box on West Road opposite the General Hospital, until the end of lockdown.
Members said they were upset at the proposal to remove the Brighton Grove phone box, which the group claim is the only box that works out of the two community larder sites.
Now the group has launched a petition to protect the phone box from being removed, which has gained almost 200 signatures in three days. Elgan added: “The payphone is still needed in the community as there are instances where people don’t have a mobile phone, or their phone may have run out of charge.
“I’ve been asked by people on a number of occasions if they can use my phone. We feel the phone box needs to stay both as a community larder and a working payphone.”
Sherene Meir, who also helped to run the community larder, said: “I moved to Newcastle just before the pandemic and most of the people I know I have met through the mutual aid group.
“The phone box has played a huge part in that. At points of lockdown when you couldn’t do much, the phone box became something to help keep people connected to their community, as well helping to feed people in the community.”
BT said it was aware of the work of the mutual aid group and would contact it to see if a resolution can be arrived at. A BT spokesperson said:
“With the vast majority of 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. So, we’re consulting with the council on the proposed removal of the box.
“We encourage the adoption of our phone boxes by eligible bodies for just £1 through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme, although we can usually only permit the conversion of modern glass boxes for defibrillator sites.
“However, we’re aware of the great work that the Arthur’s Hill and Elswick Mutual Aid group does and we’ll be contacting them to see if we can find a way of accommodating their wish to use the box in the future.”
To back the petition, visit https:// www.change.org/p/customerserv-payphones-bt-com-don-tremove-our-commuity-larder.