Mark Wooding calls for protection of our historic village heritage.

Mark Wooding, Liberal Democrat Candidate for Central Devon, today issued a call for more to be done to protect the historic heritage of our towns and villages.

"I was shocked, when meeting in people in North Tawton, to see a historic red telephone box literally being ripped out of the ground and taken away,” said Mark Wooding. “There are few things more iconic than the classic red telephone box. Designed by Sir Gilbert Scott they are emblematic of British streets. To see one being torn out spoke to me of how badly our towns and villages are being neglected. It is this pointless vandalism of our heritage that leaves so many people feeling that Britain is in decline. It is this, as much as the loss of a local bus service, that leaves our rural communities the poorer.

“It was even more shocking to see this happening in The Square in North Tawton. It’s a very pretty square with a historic clock tower. It is very much rural England. Much diminished now by the loss of its telephone box.

“I can see the phone box was in a neglected state, but surely there was a better solution than this. Many villages have refurbished them, using them as small community facilities such as libraries or to house defibrillators. I understand, talking to the workmen removing the box, that the local town Council could have bought the box for £1. I appreciate the town Council might have been reluctant to take on the cost of maintaining the box, but surely there was a better solution than getting rid of it? We really need to value those things that make our communities quintessentially British.

“The box is apparently being taken away for refurbishment, and thereafter sold. I see a restored K6 kiosk will go for £8,500.

“Whilst we continue to desecrate our local streets people will feel less and less proud of the places they live. Locally I know Liberal Democrat run District Councils are trying to do more to support villages and towns. As part of my campaign for a rural revival I will be asking them to look at ways of saving and maintaining our historic environment.”