On hold for a solution: Charlottetown man wants old phone booths fixed

A Charlottetown resident wants run down phone booths around the city either repaired or hung up for good.

"They either need to be replaced or removed," said Ian Carter, who lives in the Confederation Landing area.

Carter said he's been trying for a year to get the booths fixed up.

"That needs to be done immediately before another tourist season comes in."

Not 'our very best appearance'

Carter said he first noticed booths in need of repair near Peakes Wharf, right where cruise passengers come in to the city. He later noticed a few more in the downtown core.

"The problem is presenting our very best appearance to our tourists and our visitors, and we're not doing that when we leave terrible dilapidated phone booths," said Carter.

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"It's the small things that make a big difference in our town."

Carter said he spoke with a representative at the city and with Bell Aliant last year, but nothing happened.

'Some in the downtown area will be removed'

Bell Alaint confirmed "some [phone booths] in the downtown area will be removed," but wouldn't provide specifics.

"Declining use is a trend that has impacted the payphone business for many years now, due of course to the incredible growth in wireless services," the company said in a statement.

"We regularly review and remove payphones in low usage locations and when repeated vandalism has occurred, or at the request of a business or property owner."

A spokesperson for the City of Charlottetown said the phone booths are Bell Aliant's responsibility, and that the city hasn't had any discussions with the company about the issue.

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