Last surviving BT Payphones in Grantham are under threat

BT is looking to remove 15 of its 49 surviving payphones from across South Kesteven, including the Grantham area.

The phone giant says the move reflects the use of such payphones dropping by 90 per cent in the past decade as most people now have a mobile phone.

BT says it considers the location of any other nearby payphones and their use. Communities have until December 23 to comment on its proposals.

A spokesman said: "As part of the consultation we are also offering communities the chance to adopt traditional red 'heritage' phone boxes to the ground for just £1 through our Adopt a Kiosk scheme (see www.bt.com/adopt) and transform them into something inspirational for their local area."

Potential uses could include hosting defibrillators, mini libraries and local information centres.

He continued: "The need to provide payphones is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage. This is important because as long as there is network coverage, it's now possible to call emergency services when there is no credit or coverage from your own mobile provider."

The threatened kiosks in South Kesteven include kiosk 72423 opposite Rectory Lane, Fulbeck Heath; PC01 High Street, Caythorpe; kiosk 289, Wyville; kiosk 63306, outside 30 Manthorpe Road, Grantham; kiosk 63397, Harrowby lane/ Uplands Drive, Grantham; kiosk 65466, Gonerby Road, Gonerby Hill Foot; PC01 Main Street, Ingoldsby; and kiosk 617, High Street, South Witham.