The deadline is looming for the public to comment on BT’s proposals to remove 48 payphone boxes across a large part of South-West Surrey

Waverley Borough Council has launched a public consultation to find out what local people think.

The phone boxes are listed on the council’s website, along with the number of calls made from each phone box in the last 12 months. BT proposes to remove these payphones because of their low usage.

The 46 payphones under threat do not include Waverley’s 10 listed red phone boxes, but BT’s proposals also invite communities to adopt a traditional red phone box and make it a community asset.

Andrew Bolton, portfolio holder for economic development, said: “BT has opened up a consultation about the proposed removal of 46 phones boxes across Waverley and has invited the council to respond.

“We have informed all councillors and the town and parish councils but also want to hear the views of our residents. We are committed to ensuring BT retains phone boxes in our remote rural areas. Although most people now have mobile phones, our experience is that reception is still patchy in many parts of the borough.

“We would like to know whether residents support or object to the proposals so we can include their views in the councils response to BT.”

• To take part in the consultation go to www.waverley. gov.uk/phonebox before Friday, December 16.