Objections to proposals to remove four public payphones in Hertsmere have been submitted to BT after concerns were raised because of their use as emergency lifelines.

Plans to scrap the kiosks in High Road, Bushey Heath, Gateshead Road, Borehamwood, London Road, Shenley, and The Green, Letchmore Heath, along with 21 others were announced by BT Telecommunications PLC last year.

Following a public consultation, officers at Hertsmere Borough Council have written to the Secretary of State for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and BT calling for the four payphones to be retained.

Hertsmere Borough Cllr Harvey Cohen, said: “We are objecting to the removal of payphones which show the highest levels of usage. In some cases, we have also received comments from members of the public asking for the phones to stay because they feel safer with them there.

"While it is not our decision whether the phones are removed, under Ofcom rules, local authorities are responsible for conducting a public consultation and we were keen to give residents a chance to have their say on this issue.

"The responses show that, even in these times of high mobile phone usage, payphones still have a role to play in terms of community cohesion and safety."

Campaigners in Letchmore Heath say the public payphone is the ‘only means of emergency communication’ for elderly people living in the village. They say residents face a long walk to the next payphone. The phone was used 33 times in the past year.

The payphone in Shenley was used 158 times in the last 12 months; the Bushey Heath phone was used 230 times and the Borehamwood payphone 40 times.

BT announced the plans to scrap the payphones, plus seven payphones in Potters Bar, six others in Bushey and Bushey Heath, five others in Borehamwood, one in Elstree, one in South Mimms, and one in Aldenham in October. They cited the rise of mobile phone use and improved network coverage for the reasons behind the move.

Two periods of public consultation were run by the council between November and January. A decision will be made by BT later this year.