Plans to remove more public payphones from the streets of Tenby have been poo-pooed by local councillors.

Correspondence recently came before members of Tenby town council revealed that BT were carrying out consultations on the proposed removal of payphones across the county, with two identified in Tenby - one at the junction of Marsh Road/Knowling Mead; and the second at Heywood Lane.

BT have stated that overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade, with the need to provide the facilities for use in emergency situations diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage, with it now possible to call emergency services even when there is no credit or coverage from a particular user’s mobile network provider.

Tenby councillors dismissed the proposals, stating that it was ‘vital’ that the payphones were kept in case of an emergency, especially in a holiday resort where the population increased during the summer season, and in an area where there were three schools in the vicinity.

At their meeting on Tuesday night, councillors were met with further proposals from BT to state that they were consulting on more payphones identified for removal - with one outside St. John’s Church on South Parade and the other on St. Julian’s Street.

Statistics showed that the payphone on South Parade had been used 51 times in 12 months up until July of this year; and the St Julian Street facility - 88 times over the same time frame.

Clr. Harry Whitehurst told his colleagues that it would be ‘inconsistent’ for them to agree to these proposed removals if they had refused the others touted, as it was shown that these payphones had been used far more by the public.

The Mayor, Clr. Tony Brown agreed and said that one payphone was definitely needed down by the harbour area, in case of emergencies.

The Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown stated that if they voted to keep them, then some form of maintenance and cleaning was needed.

“The one along South Parade has urine all over it...and the other, and writing up the glass too - it is constantly dirty, as nobody ever cleans it, so they desperately need tidying up, otherwise I’m all for them going!” she stated.

The majority of councillors agreed to write back to BT to state that they were in favour of not having the payphones removed.