AT THE Bude-Stratton full council meeting on Thursday, September 5 members of the council discussed whether they should adopt any of the red phone boxes in the area, before BT remove them.

Some of the councillors suggested that the town council should adopt a number of these phone boxes so that they could be turned into various community assets, such as a mini library.

Cllr Tony Gibbs brought this proposal to the council.

He said: “It would be a nice outpost for mini libraries, a place for people to swap books. I think that the public would be disappointed that they would be removed without consideration.”

Some councillors believed that the phone boxes represent heritage, with Cllr Peter La Broy adding: “I think there is heritage with the red ones, we could get rid of the others. My wife and I drive out to Okehampton to visit one called the cake box. They could support some of the activities of the council are doing and the history value is absolutely great.”

Cllr Lea Deeley requested whether the red telephone box at Bush would be able to be moved and put into the Castle grounds.

Cllr Julia Bryson voiced that the council should enquire if they are able to be moved.

She added: “We should find out if we can move them and agree if we should use them for something else. It could be a place for defibrillators as we have quite a lot in the town now.”

For Cllr Gibbs it was a simple decision to make as he explained that the cost to the council to acquire the telephone boxes would only be £1 per unit.

Cllr Robert Uhlig suggested: “We should put it out to the community to see if they have any suggestions.”

But, Mayor, Cllr Bob Willingham explained that he had already posted this on his Facebook page.

Cllr Peter Moores was particularly against this motion. He said: “I’m not meaning to be rude but what is the point of a council if we keep putting things out for the community to decide?”

However, the old telephone boxes are able to be purchased by any member of the public to be used as they please.

Cllr Gibbs said: “Looking at the adoption document, there is a variety of uses — over 5,000 different versions have been adopted already. The point is we could provide the service to the community if we asked them if they would use it and would they want to use it.”

Despite the low cost and the ability to use the space for multiple ventures to support the community, members of the council reminded the table that they would have to assume the liability.

Cllr Simon Browning said: “We can adopt them for a pound but we would get the liability.”

Cllr Moores added: “Council should not to get involved with it due to the liability. We would be responsible for it if people smashed windows, people getting drunk and throwing up in there. Who will look after and maintain them? We don’t have the resources.”

Cllr Norman Tucker said: “I don’t think people will care, I can’t remember where they are, I don’t think people will care anyway.”

Cllr Moores proposed that the council declines BT’s invitation to adopt the telephone boxes, but this motion failed.

It was then proposed by Cllr La Broy that Bude-Stratton Town Council would adopt three red telephone boxes and devolve responsibility for them to the Communities Committee.

The vote was carried.