District Council exposes faults in BT’s Adopt-a-Kiosk scheme

South Norfolk Council are calling on British Telecom to account for misleading customers through their Adopt-a Kiosk-scheme. Last year, BT announced plans to remove 63 phone boxes from across the district and communities were given the chance to adopt the red box, without the phone service, at a cost of £1.

BT estimated the electricity supply for the light in the phone box would cost parishes between £17-£20 per year.

With this in mind, many local parishes jumped at the chance to retain this iconic symbol of village life.

But they are now up in arms after being billed for standing charges of around £200 per year, as well as the charge for actual use from energy supply companies.

Furthermore, to cancel the energy supply completely could mean a disconnection fee of £500.

South Norfolk Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Martin Wilby said:

“It is disappointing that BT did not inform parishes of these costs last year, as it now puts them in a very difficult position. We have campaigned hard to save our phone boxes and we will be doing everything we can over the next few weeks to try and resolve these difficulties."

Bramerton Parish Council adopted their box in May and in November they were told by their electricity supplier that they would have to pay a standing charge of 56p a day, which equates to just over £200 per year.

Chairman of Bramerton Parish Council Geoff Shaw, said:

"The phone box in Bramerton plays a prominent part in the Village scene. On the basis of a nominal cost and an estimate by BT that the electricity bill for its illumination would be in the order of £17pa, we took up their offer to acquire it.

"It now turns out that the power supply for one single low voltage bulb may have a standing charge of over £200pa attached to it. It's a complete bombshell. Quite frankly we feel mislead."

BT is now carrying out another consultation programme on their plans to remove 65 phones boxes from around the district, again giving parishes the chance to “adopt”.

Councillor Wilby said:

“Most parishes are unable to meet these costs, and therefore will have to reluctantly accept the removal of the box. But these historic boxes are an integral part of rural community life, and we wish to see them kept wherever possible.”

“Over the next few weeks, we plan to negotiate with energy suppliers on behalf of the parishes, to see if the standing charge can be removed or at least reduced.

“We will also be hosting a meeting in January of parish councils affected and will be co-ordinating a response to BT by the deadline of 2 January 2010 where we will be making our views known.”

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