PLANS to axe a phone box from the A57 at Ladybower are set to be vetoed by High Peak Council on public safety grounds.
The authority says the old-style red box at Snake Road, near the Ladybower Inn - which was used 207 times last year - must stay because it is the last payphone in an isolated location with poor mobile phone network coverage.
The council is also se
t to block removal of a phone box in Carr Lane, Bamford, although it was only used once last year.
BT will be refused permission to remove the box after objections were made by residents and two councillors because it is an "attractive feature" in a conservation area, is the village's last phone, and on safety grounds because there is poor mobile phone signal.
High Peak Council has been asked to consider plans to remove a total of 37 boxes by BT because they weren't making enough money. Most of the others are in the west of the Peak District.
Council officers have recommended the authority uses its power of veto to stop 23 of the threatened call boxes from being removed. Councillors will make a final decision at a meeting on Wednesday August 6.
The threat to the A57 call box comes as Derbyshire Road Safety Partnership is considering asking to BT to increase the number of payphones on the road due to lack of mobile reception meaning people have to walk miles for help after an accident, breakdown or emergency.
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