Two of Reading’s remaining telephone boxes will be removed, but the council has rejected the removal of 11 others.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) planning officers have approved the removal of telephone boxes in Tilehurst and Caversham, while refusing plans to remove others across the town.

The boxes are owned by BT, who applied for their removal because its research shows the payphones are not used enough to justify running them.

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The two telephone boxes that will be removed are:

  • On the junction of St George’s Road and Waverley Road, Tilehurst
  • One of the two telephone boxes in the St Martins Precinct on Church Street, Caversham

Removal one – ‘Undesirable activities’

Council officers said the box on the junction of St George’s Road and Waverley Road, which is near to a primary school, can be removed because there is a low level use (384 calls in one year), and it “attracts anti-social behaviour”.

Comments from residents supporting the removal of the telephone box refer to the box being used for “undesirable activities” and it is therefore believed to be inappropriately located near to schoolchildren.

Local councillors described the phone box as “more a hub of anti-social behaviour than an asset of value for local residents who may need it”.

Removal two – One is enough

Council officers said the box on Church Street can be removed because it is one of two on the same road.

They said the phone boxes provide a good level of service for the community and at least one should remain for this use.

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Although they described the two boxes are “relatively well used”, with 204 and 192 calls per year respectively, this is less than the above box which was described as “low use”.

Here to stay – the other 11 boxes

1. Usk Road, Tilehurst

Officers said this box is relatively under-used, with 24 calls per year.

However, they say the box should be retained as it is located in an area which is within the top 10 per cent of deprived areas in England and so residents are less likely to have full access to mobile phones.

2. Harvaston parade, Hardwick Road, Tilehurst

Officers say this box is relatively well used, with 48 calls per year.

The box is located close to primary and secondary schools, with pupils being less likely to be in a position to make use of mobile phones, and officers believe the level of use indicates the box remains important and should be retained for the benefit of residents and local school children.

3. Junction of Tylers Place and Pottery Road, Tilehurst

Located next to to Meadow Park Academy School and a Pharmacy, the box has low usage, with 12 calls a year.

Due to being close to the school and pharmacy, which act as focal points for the community, officers believe the phone box remains “socially important”.

4. Spey Road, Tilehurst

Considered relative well used, with 144 calls per year, this box is located close to primary schools, and officers say the level of use indicates it remains important.

5. Recreation centre, Amersham Road, Caversham

While this box is relatively under-used, with 12 calls per year, it is located close a local recreation centre and park, and officers say it should be retained for the benefit of residents and local young people.

6. Box two at St Martins Precinct, Church Street, Caversham

The more utilised box on Church Street will stay for now, with the other one to be removed.

7. Junction of St Barnabas Road and Grove Road, Emmer Green

This box is currently not functional, and officers say this means there not sufficient information available on its use to justify removing it.

It is near to a surgery, church, youth and community centre and two schools, “a significant grouping of community uses, many of which serve young or more vulnerable members of the community”.

8. Opposite 178 Wensley Road, Coley

This box is relatively well used with 180 calls per year and is within one of the top 30 per cent most deprived areas in England.

Officers said the level of use indicates the box remains important and should be retained for the benefit of residents.

9. Near betting shop, Northumberland Avenue, Whitley

This box has relatively high usage with 372 calls per year and is considered important to residents.

10. Opposite 2&3 Carousel Court, Northumberland Avenue, Whitley

This box has the highest usage of all, with 444 calls per year and is within one of the top 30 per cent most deprived areas in England.

Officers said the high usage indicates that the box remains important and should be retained for the benefit of residents.

11. Junction of Dawlish Road and Callington Road, Whitley

With a relatively high usage of 216 calls per year and sited within one of the top 30 per cent most deprived areas in England, officers said the box remains important and should be retained for the benefit of residents.