BABERGH chiefs have pledged to help communities fight the closure of 43 phone boxes in the area today.

BABERGH chiefs have pledged to help communities fight the closure of 43 phone boxes in the area today.

BT wants to axe the boxes unless a good case can be made against removing them and Babergh District Council is to co-ordinating responses from parish and town councils and other community groups to give them a chance to fight for the phone boxes.

The council is writing to the groups advising that arguments for retaining phone boxes could include the need for emergency calls, the lack of good mobile reception, the convenient location of existing phone boxes and the number of people using the booths.

Neil Henry, economic and community development manager at the council, said: “Babergh is determined that local communities have the chance to voice their views on such a matter.

“For some it may not be a major issue. For others the loss of their phone box may cause real worry and hardship and we are determined to help these put their case to BT as effectively as possible.

“We will do everything we can to help parishes and towns and other groups build a convincing case to stop BT axing any of the 43 phone boxes - if that is what they want us to do.”