[dropcap type=”circle”]W[/dropcap]e could be heading for a cliff-edge Brexit. The discovery of many Earth type planets capable of supporting life might mean an alien invasion force is on its way here. The Krankies could make a TV comeback.
But who cares about such catastrophes when the decommissioned red telephone box in the Lower Village looks set to be saved?
As reported in Heswall Today in October last year, the fate of the box – known to connoisseurs as a K6 – was subject late last year to a public consultation following years of little or no use.
Had the consultation yielded little or no reaction, the box – which stands outside Poppies the cleaners (the former Post Office) not far from its pal, the red pillar box – would have been removed.
Though not as valuable as their ancestors, the K2 boxes, K6’s are much sought after and command high prices.
BT Landlines is aware that communities often wish to save their landmark and historic kiosks, and makes it possible for them to be adopted.
It’s a pleasure to report that the Heswall Society has stepped up to the plate. The Society’s Steve Anderson says, “The process is far from straightforward as the kiosk is on private land and not Council land.”
There are also cost issues. Steve adds: “We are looking at around £600 to cover repair and painting, and I have estimated about £300 for legal fees but we still don’t really know. We are receiving excellent free legal support from a local solicitor, but the Society will have to pay the associated landowner’s legal costs.”
Heswall Today wishes the Society well. The red box is not only an attractive design classic, but an integral part of the history of the Lower Village and an asset to the Conservation Area in which it sits.
As we also described in our pages, communities across the country have found other uses for their decommissioned kiosks so, in the fullness of time, a choice can be made between restoring and preserving it, or granting it some kind of new lease of life.
In the meantime, Heswall Today will contribute a fiver to the cost of refurbishing the red box. If just another 99 people do the same then we are almost there.
We would love to learn on our Facebook pages if a Just Giving page is likely to attract enough support. Please let us know your thoughts.
';
