Red letter day in phone box battle

FALLING TO PIECES . . . Michael Fancy with the telephone box before its recent restoration.

Relief as Delph piece of history is left to locals

PUB landlord Michael Fancy is celebrating a successful campaign to save a red telephone box in a Saddleworth beauty spot.

The debate over the box at Heights on the outskirts of Delph started more than a year ago.

Windows had been broken and door hinges were hanging off.

But Mr Fancy, who runs the Royal Oak, joined councillor Mike Buckley, Oldham’s heritage champion, in demanding British Telecom restore the box to its former glory.

After months of argument, windows in the box were replaced and the door hinges repaired.

Now, along with another red kiosk outside the King William pub in Greenfield’s conservation area, the box is to be retained although both will be decommissioned.

Known as the K6 telephone box, the red kiosk was introduced in Britain in 1936 to celebrate the previous year’s silver jubilee of King George V.

It was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the leading architect of the day.

Usage of pay phones has fallen dramatically with the widespread use of mobiles and BT are offering local councils the option of adopting redundant boxes rather than seeing them disappear altogether.

Said Councillor Buckley: “Red telephone boxes are valued and appreciated aspects of the English townscape and countryside.

“Many of them have been listed by English Heritage. We are in danger of losing them forever unless new uses can be found for them.

“The box at Heights is an important piece of local history.”

The Parish Council has agreed to take over the kiosks from BT and make arrangements for their ongoing cleaning and maintenance, and find new uses for them after BT have removed the telephones.

The Council is appealing to local groups and schools to come up with new and imaginative ideas to ensure they are maintained and cared for.

Tony Marlor, clerk to Saddleworth Council, said: “A recent parish survey showed many existing phone boxes are in a poor state and need repainting and repairs.

“We will ensure this is addressed with the two boxes we have saved.”

Mr Fancy, along with a neighbour, has offered to renovate and clean the box near his pub.

He said: “I am delighted the Parish Council has made this decision.

“The red phone boxes are an important part of heritage and add a lot of character to the area.”

Parish councillor Ken Hulme, who supported Councillor Buckley, said: “I’m sure if we invited suggestions from the local community, including children, we’d get some very interesting and novel ideas.”

Meanwhile, the red telephone boxes at Delph crossroads and Sam Road, Diggle, will be removed by BT