Kiosks plan for old phone boxes

Fading iconic red telephone boxes could be given a new lease of life as tourist information kiosks in Saddleworth villages.

The novel idea follows BT’s plans to scrap the historic phone boxes at key sites across the district.

And BT is offering them for sale for just £1 — providing parish councils or local authorities take them over as part of its “payphone adoption scheme”.

Councillor Alan Roughley, Lib-Dems representative for Saddleworth North, said: “It would be a great pity to lose these boxes.

“They are much-loved by the community, and, although some are in a dilapidated state, any scheme to put them to other uses is well worth considering.”

His move has been backed by a publican who has been involved in a year-long wrangle with BT over the unkempt state of phone box at Heights, above Delph.

The box outside Michael Fancy’s pub, The Royal Oak, is a landmark for motorists and tourists. And, backed by local heritage champion, Councillor Mike Buckley, Mr Fancy went to war with BT to get a door and broken windows replaced.

He said: “Turning the kiosks into mini-information centres could be a real winner.Saddleworth is packed with history and the boxes could provide information, maps and useful telephone numbers for visitors.” Other phone boxes earmarked for closure are: Delph Lodge, Huddersfield Road, Delph; Ladhill Lane, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield; Sam Road-Station Road junction Diggle.

Now with the deadline looming for decisions over the future of the boxes, Saddleworth Parish Councillor, Royce Franklin plans to bring the idea before an extraordinary meeting of the parish’s environmental group.

“It is a very interesting point that is worthy of urgent discussion,” he said.

John Lumb, general manager for BT Payphones, said councils across the UK had taken the opportunity of owning the kiosks.

“They have an iconic place in the local community,” he said.