Plans to remove two public pay 'phones from the Tenby area, including one on Caldey Island, have been met with dismay by local councillors. Members of Tenby Town Council heard of the proposals at their meeting on Tuesday evening, when a letter from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's development management officer, Cathy Milner, was brought before them. "I have been advised by BT that they are looking to rationalise the provision of pay 'phones given the high incidence of mobile 'phones and increased coverage of the same during recent years," said Mrs. Cathy Milner. Along with the facility on Caldey, a pay 'phone near the town's Post Office was also scheduled to be removed. Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, said that she felt it was very sad that the only pay 'phone on Caldey would no longer be there, while Clr. Mrs. Maureen Ward wondered if the residents of the island had given a response to the proposals. Clr. Paul Rapi felt that the pay 'phone was vital in an emergency. "In an emergency, anyone on the island may need some form of contact to the mainland. Mobile 'phone signals can be unreliable and what if your battery had died? Due to health and safety issues, I feel strongly that the facility should be retained," he said. Clr. Mrs. Sandra Williams concurred with her colleague that the mobile 'phone reception on Caldey was poor. Councillors agreed to write back to the National Park Authority recommending that the pay 'phone on Caldey be retained.
