ARE rural public telephone boxes going to start disappearing?

The WI thinks this might happen because Oftel, the telephone watchdog, has announced it is relaxing requirements to allow phone kiosks to be removed in urban areas. Oftel is taking this move because income from the kiosks has fallen by 40pc due to vandalism and increased use of mobile phones.

But the WI sees public telephone boxes in rural areas as an essential service, especially for emergency situations. Janet Wright, chairman of public affairs of the North Yorkshire East Federation of WIs, says that as such, they should be subsidised, if necessary.

"As usual, it is the poor and the elderly in rural areas who will be hardest hit," she said. "A significant number of rural inhabitants do not have mobile phones. Many can't use them because they live in areas of poor reception. Others are afraid to use mobiles because of the well-publicised health risks linked to them."

She points out that Oftel has not yet announced its view on phone kiosks in rural areas, but she added: "We are deeply concerned that the action announced for urban areas may be the beginning of a slippery slope, with telephone boxes in rural areas next in line for removal."

Ryedale MP John Greenway agreed the measure was "worrying".

"There is understandable anxiety given the extent of key services which have been removed from rural areas like Ryedale in recent years.

"At the moment, Oftel is recommending rural kiosks stay but if this changes I will be challenging them on this.

"I would also urge people in every parish in Ryedale to let me know straight away if there is any suggestion that their telephone kiosk is to be removed."

Despite concerns, a spokesman from Oftel said there were no plans to relax the rules over rural phone boxes.

"The report into urban boxes is from a consultation we have carried out into kiosks across the country," he said.

"BT will be allowed to remove boxes in urban areas where there are one or more together. There is no suggestion at this stage that rural kiosks will be affected."

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, November 29, 2001