Telstra has targeted eight phones for removal from the area.

Stickers had been placed on payphones in Sherlock, Peake, Jabuk, Yumali, Ki Ki, Cooke Plains and Tailem Bend asking for residents and visitors to voice their opinion about the removal of the phones.

Telstra Country Wide local business sales manager Simon Hayes said since the introduction and widespread use of mobiles phones, payphones were declining in use and popularity.

“Payphones are generally in towns where the payphone is only one of many options,” he said.

“We (Telstra) are not removing payphones from sites that do not have Telstra mobile coverage.”

However, the range of coverage from other service providers is unknown.

Sherlock General Store and Garage owner Richard Toogood discovered the town’s payphone was being targeted for removal about two weeks ago.

“Here in Sherlock we have good (mobile) coverage, but I am not sure what it’s like at other places,” he said.

“If the coverage wasn’t good then it would be a different story.

“It’s sad to see anything get taken away.”

Member for Barker Patrick Secker said it was important to have payphones in cases of emergency.

He said not everyone had a mobile phone or there could be problems with reception or a flat battery.

“Therefore it is still important to have payphones available for emergency calls or for whatever reason,” Mr Secker said.

“A decline in popularity or use does not mean they are not necessary.”

Telstra conducted a 90-day consultation period which closed on January 21.

The final review and decisions on the indiviual payphones will be made next week.