FIVE phone boxes in Helensburgh and Lomond have been earmarked for removal – despite a couple having been used “fairly regularly” in recent months.

Three facilities in Helensburgh are listed in a report to go before Argyll and Bute Council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee on Wednesday, September 18.

They are located in Churchill Square, Old Luss Road and Collins Road, and no calls had been made from any of them in the year up to June.

But a phone box on Feorlin Way in Garelochhead, which is also included in the report, is recorded to have had 33 calls made from it in the same timeframe.

And the remaining one, on Main Road in Cardross, had 14 calls made from it during the period.

LATEST HEADLINES: Two elderly people cut free after car crash on B833 near Garelochhead

All five are in areas which are listed to have good 4G network coverage.

A total of 38 phone boxes across Argyll and Bute are earmarked for removal as part of the report, compiled by executive director for development and economic growth Pippa Milne.

Committee members are asked to approve the removal of those which have a 4G signal and have not been the subject of any objections.

However, they are also asked to formally object to the removal of any which do not receive 4G coverage or which have been the subject of objections.

All community councils have been notified and notices have been placed in the at-risk phone boxes.

LATEST HEADLINES: Postcards of Kindness bring smiles to Helensburgh care home

Ms Milne said: “As outlined in the consultation document the reason for the proposed removal is due to the fact that overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade.

“The need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage.

“This is important because as long as there is network coverage, it’s now possible to call the emergency services, even when there is no credit or no coverage, from your own mobile provider.

“In addition to this BT have also asked the council to consider the recent Ofcom affordability report which found that most consumers do not view payphones as essential for most consumers in most circumstances.

“The consultation process is relatively simple: they are asking local communities if they wish to agree/object to the removal of the box or if the wish is to adopt the telephone box for an alternative use.

LATEST HEADLINES: Pictures from first Go Swim event on Loch Lomond

“If they wish to adopt the telephone box they need pay £1 and provide a contact email address.

“There has been a number of communities across the area that have already been through the adoption process and have used these to hold defibrillators, small libraries, cake shops or general public information hubs.

“As the consultation is due to end shortly, it is recommended that the council allows the consultation to progress as intended, and any phone box that has not received a response shall be removed.”