CONCERNS have been raised that lives could be put at risk if the proposed removal of a public phone box in Beadnell goes ahead.
A notice placed in the box, on Harbour Road, states that a consultation on the removal of the box is underway and due to end soon.
Frank Burke, of Harbour Road, said: "A group of divers coming ashore were astonished and concerned as that telepho
ne has in the past many years been instrumental in the saving of lives at sea."
He points out that mobile phone reception in the area can be poor and the alternative of knocking on residents' doors wastes crucial time in an emergency.
There is another emergency telephone in the car park but Mr Burke says its location does not provide the important panoramic view of the coastline that the one on Harbour Road does.
"Visitors who may spot an incident and don't have a mobile phone with them don't necessarily know of the car park phone and even if they did may not be in a fit condition to dash along there," he said.
BT have revealed that the request for removal has come from a developer as the kiosk is directly in front of a property he is renovating.
The consultation letter was sent to Northumberland Council Council's planning and development department on June 2, although there remains some confusion over when the consultation ends with the notice in the phone box actually stating it finished yesterday (July 1).
A BT spokesman said: "Under Ofcom guidelines as there is not another kiosk within 400m, we have to consult with the local authority.
"The local authority run the consultation and if they prove a social need for the kiosk it will either not be removed or resited nearby at a cost to the developer."
Berwick MP, Sir Alan Beith, and local county councillor Pat Scott have taken up the concerns after being contacted by the Berwick Advertiser.
Speaking earlier this week Sir Alan said: "Councillor Pat Scott and I have made enquiries and no-one seems to have been given any notice about this proposal.
"Because the notice says that the consultation ends very soon, I have emailed the chief executive of BT and asked him to look into this as a matter of urgency. I have had an acknowledgement and hope for a quick full reply.
"The telephone box is located in Harbour Road where mobile phone reception is very poor. The bay at Beadnell is heavily used for watersports, particularly divers and sailors.
"Given the lack of mobile phone reception I am very concerned that there should be a phone service, clearly visible to tourists and others, to ensure that the emergency services can be reached quickly when accidents happen."
Coun Scott added: "I had heard nothing about this consultation and neither had the parish council or the planning department. I have also been in touch with BT making them aware of the importance of this phone box."
