Campaign launched to save ‘boringly ugly’ 1980s BT phone boxes

A KX100 phone box on the Isle of Harris. The kiosks were designed to be vandal-proof, easy to clean and less likely to smell of urine. Photograph: John Maher/C20 Society

Campaigners are trying to secure listed status for the “boringly ugly” telephone boxes that BT controversially used to replace thousands of red phone boxes in the 1980s.

The Twentieth Century Society, which champions outstanding examples of modern design, has applied for listed status for one KX100 box each in England, Scotland and Wales before they are removed next year.