Anger after second hand Welsh phone boxes installed in Darwen

5:26pm Tuesday 15th April 2008

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"SCRUFFY" second-hand Welsh phone boxes have been installed in a regeneration area of Darwen town centre.

A request was made in December to replace boxes, which were taken out of the Market Square last year while work was done in the area, with iconic red phone boxes.

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But now two modern-style boxes on Market Street have been installed.

One has English signage and the other has Welsh and English writing.

Neither have phones in them.

Muriel Brown, from Ribble Avenue, Darwen, said: "It's lovely round here and then they go and put these scruffy things in.

"I'd rather they were the old fashioned type or at least new ones.

"There's not many Welsh folk around here!"

Rowen Hayes, 31, from the Hollins Grove area, said: "It's weird.

"They're definitely not right for here. I don't know why they didn't leave the originals in."

A BT engineer at the site said he was fitting the phones in the boxes on Wednesday and that they had "probably come off another site."

Emma Tennant, spokeperson for BT, said: "I can confirm plans are under way to complete the reinstallation of two modern-style payphone kiosks just off Market Square, as previously agreed with the local authority.

"It is normal practice for BT to reuse payphone materials where we can. We will ensure the kiosks are in tip top condition." Coun Dave Smith said: "They are really scruffy and unkempt.

"There is Welsh writing on them, so they are clearly second-hand from Wales.

"They are out of keeping and I would have thought that new boxes would have been installed in keeping with all the new works. Old-style red boxes would have been good."

Coun Paul Browne said: "To put second-hand phone boxes in an area of regeneration is atrocious.

"No wonder people are getting fed up with politics."

Adam Scott, strategic director of regeneration and environment, said: "One of the boxes is in Welsh.

"We are known for our welcome to visitors but this is ridiculous!

"We are contacting BT to ask for the telephone boxes to be improved."

Coun Alan Cottam, executive member for regeneration, said the phone boxes would be made appropriate for the conservation area.

He said: "We recognise there is a need to make them look presentable.

"The phone boxes that have been put in are not available new and command a high price."