RESIDENTS in two areas of Launceston are to be asked whether they want to keep their familiar red telephone kiosks in an age of plentiful mobile phones — but if they say 'yes' it will be at a cost.

The people living at St John's Road and Trecarrell Estate are to be canvassed by Launceston Town Councillors anxious to know their view.

The idea comes after British telecom (BT) presented the town council with "an opportunity to retain their kiosks."

BT, the councillors meeting at the Guildhall on September 16 were told, had presented two options. It had originally proposed to close down the Trecarrell kiosk but councillors had wanted BT to give the kiosk to the council and for it be be placed in Lawrence House Museum garden.

The first option involved leaving the kiosks in situ — a cost of £1 — with the council protecting the community landscape and maintaining the kiosks without the telephones inside and being responsible for the maintenance.

The second option was for the kiosk and telephone apparatus to be retained with the town council paying £500 annually for ongoing maintenance.

An un-refurbished kiosk would cost the council between £300 and £500 and a fully refurbished one between £3,000 and £5,000. The deadline for a decision was October 1.

Cllr Gordon suggested they ask people in the areas whether they wanted to keep the kiosks.

Cllr Tony Sandercock said that if there was no telephone he could not see any reason to keep a kiosk but Cllr Mary Williams commented;

"I think we should keep one in the town — they are quite attractive."

Cllr Graham Facks-Martin said he understood some parishes had decided to keep a kiosk but in his ward they were going to be removed. He knew there were people without mobile phones but the number with them was growing all the time. People should be made aware that they would have to pay £500 to keep a kiosk.

Councillors agreed to draft out a document to give to residents in the two areas to ask them what they wanted before coming to a decision.

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