The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A bid to turn a historic phonebox into a display on some of Spalding’s history and new signs for the town are among new proposals.
Coun Elizabeth Sneath is looking to adopt the Churchgate phonebox by the River Welland for a pound to preserve it going forward.
It follows an article in The Voice on March 18 where the list of those phoneboxes BT were looking for people or groups to take over the running was published.
Coun Sneath told last week’s meeting of the Spalding Town Forum: “I’d like to take it on and turn it into a history box that you put copies of old pictures in so it’s a heritage site.
“People could come along and have a look at the pictures.
“You could imagine standing there as if you’re at the Flower Parade or something. I’d like to work with officers to carry this out.”
Coun Jack McLean told the meeting that it was something he’d tried to do in the past but felt frustrated at the lack of support from others.
He said: “I’m pleased it’s come up again but that was such a simple task four years ago and we debated it on multiple occasions. It ended up with myself and Harry Drury and frankly that one of the last times he turned up to the meeting as every time I put it on the agenda he wouldn’t turn up.”
The Town Forum’s chair Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said he’d seen something similar while in Cheltenham: “They were images of Cheltenham in days gone by.
“You don’t open them up, which is how they can get misused. They were very attractive. They drew the eye and people were walking around them.”
The forum opted to talk to South Holland District Council about taking the postbox on.
* Another scheme mentioned was to get new signs for Spalding.
Coun Gary Taylor said now was a good time to do this given the sign at Barrier Bank/Cowbit Road had been knocked down in high winds.
He said: “The current signs have served us well.
“They were an interim measure and they’ve lasted quite a long time considering they cost about £1,200 of member contributions and I had them erected and designed with some input from my dear wife and Ian Oliver and manufactured in Crowland.
“They still look as good as they did then, despite the fact people have shot at a few of them and they’ve had a few knocks from what are believed to be cutting machines.”
