City's dilapidated phone boxes are in need of replacement.

Residents say neglected and vandalised phone booths are spoiling the appearance of Newports city centre, urging that they be removed and replaced. Locals who oppose the current state of the kiosks want provider BT to install modern street hubs offering free high-speed Wi-Fi, phone calls and charging ports instead.

Political blogger and Conservative campaigner Michael Enea described one of the booths as being caked in dirt, sludge and moss, calling its condition truly disgraceful.

BT, which is responsible for maintaining the structures, declined to offer a statement. One phone box located at the corner of Llanarth Street and John Frost Square was highlighted as being especially unsightly, standing out like a sore thumb.

Newport Council stated it has no authority to remove the existing boxes, although complaints have previously been filed with BT. Street hubs, featuring 75-inch digital displays and already operating in Cardiff, Swansea and parts of Newport, have been suggested as replacements.

Enea believes installing the hubs would contribute to a broader renewal of the city centre, saying that visitors immediately notice how tired and dirty the area looks. He stressed that the city needs a significant refresh to make a better impression.

Jewellery shop owner Susan Priest, whose business sits beside the unused booth on Llanarth Street, also called for its removal. She described the structure as an eyesore, saying it looked neglected and out of place.

According to a council spokesperson, maintaining or replacing the kiosks falls solely under BTs responsibility, and the authority cannot take direct action. While the council has raised concerns with the provider, it remains BTs duty to restore or replace the phone boxes.

Analysis: Newport’s Phone Booth Dilemma

The situation in Newport highlights a growing tension between outdated public infrastructure and modern urban expectations. Residents and local business owners have voiced strong dissatisfaction with the state of the city’s phone booths, describing them as dirty, vandalised, and visually disruptive to the city centre.

BT, as the owner and maintainer of the kiosks, has not issued a statement, leaving the responsibility for upkeep and replacement squarely on the provider. Newport Council has clarified that it lacks authority to remove the booths, though it has raised concerns with BT in the past.

Suggestions to replace the booths with modern street hubs—offering free Wi-Fi, phone calls, charging ports, and digital displays—reflect a broader push to update public amenities and improve the urban environment. Supporters argue that such upgrades would enhance the city’s appearance and create a more welcoming atmosphere for visitors and residents alike.

The debate underscores a key challenge for city planning: balancing heritage and nostalgia with the need for functional, contemporary infrastructure. The outcome will largely depend on BT’s response and willingness to invest in modern alternatives that meet public demand.

Sources:

• City's 'grubby and grimy' phone boxes 'need to be replaced'