RESIDENTS in rural villages are steeling themselves for a battle to save their public telephone boxes.

Kiosks including those at Tresham, Hillesley and Kingswood are among those under threat in BT's nationwide programme of proposed payphone removal.

Stroud District Council is responsible for the consultation on the removal of the service in this area and is seeking information on mobile phone coverage, proximity to a population who may not have access to a personal land line or mobile telephone, proximity to an economically deprived community, heritage listing, proximity to a traffic accident hotspot and usage of the phone for emergency purposes.

Tresham resident Nick Eskins is campaigning for the phoneboxes to be kept.

He said: "These boxes need to be preserved even if the equipment is removed, as they play an important part in the more remote villages such as ours.

"They are a key landmark and important as a monument to the evolution of village life.

"A similar red box, which is also a focal point, in the neighbouring village of Hillesley is to be listed.

"I view these boxes as similar to the London red buses which were similarly campaigned for and which the new Mayor of London has pledged to bring back. Why can't we just keep them in the first place?"

Cllr Nigel Studdert-Kennedy, cabinet member for regeneration, added: "Coming so soon after recent post office closures, we are concerned that this is yet another attack on a public service.

"Obviously, we will need to take into account many factors. However, our main worry remains that this could put the elderly and less well off at risk.

"Personally, I would be sorry to see phone boxes disappear - they are very much part of our landscape."

If you have any information or concerns about the plans you can send your comments to the council by Sunday, July 20 or via the web at www.stroud.gov.uk/docs/regeneration/phonebox.asp.