THE NUMBER could be up for 36 public payphones in Pembrokeshire, if proposals by BT are given the go-ahead.

Call boxes across the county have been identified by the telecoms giant as meeting their criteria for removal.

The cull of some of Pembrokeshire’s 241 kiosks is revealed in a planning application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Since August 17, payphones under threat have been carrying notices of potential removal. The consultation period closes on November 28.

Over 20 of the kiosks concerned have had five or less calls made from them in the past 12 months.

These include payphones in Angle, Hodgeston, Lydstep, St Davids and Keeston, which have not been used at all.

However, there is evidence of greater use at the threatened call boxes at Knowling Mead, Tenby (127 calls), Stackpole (63), Moylegrove (57), Marloes (54),The Square, Dinas Cross (31) and Lamphey (25).

A BT spokesperson said: “BT is carrying out an ongoing review of payphones which we believe are no longer needed.

“We have written to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority proposing the removal of 36 payphones.

“None of these payphone will be removed without the consent of the park authority.”

BT says that payphone usage has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade.

Added the spokesperson: “In all instances, where there is no other payphone within 400 metres, we’ll ask for consent from the local authority to remove the payphone.

“Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won’t remove the payphone.”

He added that as well as the number of calls made being taken into account, BT would also take into consideration if there is another payphone nearby, the running costs for maintaining the payphone and if there is a strong mobile signal in the area.”

Any comments should be made to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.