David Ruffley MP consulted Parish Councils representing rural villages in his constituency following BT's proposal to remove 53 public payphones across West Suffolk and offered to support villages who want to retain their payphone.

David has now written to St Edmundsbury Borough Council expressing his support for Parish Councils who want to retain their village payphone. BT is obliged by law to consult the Council, who will submit their response to BT in January following the recent public consultation.

The responses to David's consultation confirm that villages with well used public payphones are keen to retain them- against the wishes of BT. In particular, there is great support for retaining BT payphones in The Street, Pakenham and Livermere Road, Great Barton- two of the most frequently used. Over a twelve month period, Pakenham was used for 152 calls and Great Barton for 68.

David is backing the Parish Councils who have contacted him saying they want to retain their payphones. As well as Pakenham and Great Barton, David is supporting the retention of payphones in Bradfield St Clare and Troston.

David said:

'There is clearly huge support for the well used payphones in Pakenham and Great Barton. Even in villages where there is minimal use- such as Bradfield St Clare and Troston- the Parish Councils are keen to retain the payphone for emergency use in these rural areas.

'Removal of public payphones is a further erosion of rural facilities. We should not forget that for some rural villages in my constituency, these payphones are a vital community resource.

'Although many of these payphones are used only infrequently they may nevertheless be a vital resource for people without a landline or mobile- or for use in an emergency which could happen at any time. It must not be assumed that everyone has access to a landline or mobile.'