DIALLING UP A PLAN TO SAVE A PIECE OF VILLAGE HISTORY
THE prospect of losing one of their most familiar landmarks is enough to make the villagers of Ballyeaston see red.
But as British Telecom finalises plans to remove its old-style telephone boxes across the country, a former Newtownabbey Mayor is determined that the borough's last remaining K2 design should stay exactly where it is.
Alderman Paul Girvan has already spoken to Council chief executive Norman Dunn about the risk of losing the quaint looking red phone box from award-winning Ballyeaston village - and he intends to raise the matter at next week's planning committee meeting.
Earlier this year BT launched two schemes aimed at preserving the character of red boxes in our communities. Local authorities have the opportunity to "adopt a kiosk" for just 1 or, in cases like Ballyeaston where the phone is in working order, to "sponsor a kiosk" for an annual fee of 500.
However, the October deadline for the scheme has already passed and it seems time is running out for the village's phone box.
"The people of the village are very keen to keep the old box as it is part of the character of the place, so I want to do all I can to help," said Alderman Girvan.
"It has some historical significance and anyway, it is still being used."
Anne Gault, secretary of Ballyeaston Village Committee, is also reluctant to lose the old red telephone box from the village centre and the committee will discuss the issue at their next meeting on November 13.
"I haven't talked to anyone else about it yet, but I am sure most people would want to keep the old telephone box. It fits in with the character of the village," she said.
Local historian Ernest Scott reckons the red telephone kiosk has been in Ballyeaston from around the time of the Second World War.
"In those days, a public telephone was a very important means of communication for the village. There were very few phones anywhere - and certainly not in houses," he said.
"Of course, the young people today don't know anything about them. If it wasn't for Dr. Who, they wouldn't know what a telephone box was!"
Ernest added that he would support any attempt to retain the old phone box in Ballyeaston.
"So many of them have disappeared in recent years and it is a pity to see them going," he said. "I would most certainly want the Ballyeaston one to stay."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Newtownabbey
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: South east
