Carbuncle in Dulwich Village!

[apbremer]

I know not strictly ED but here goes.

Dulwich Village~beautiful Georgian mansions, two pristine parks, the prestigious Picture Gallery,the "Dog" glowingly renovated, a tranquil green oasis in the maelstrom of South London, for all our benefits.. In its very midst a vandalised, filthy and reeking telephone box, an insult to its Conservation Area location. I have approached:

BT~the operators (although I cannot believe that any one would ever use it). NOT interested.

Dulwich Estate~nowt to do with us~NOT interested.

Dulwich Society (" To foster and safeguard the amenities of Dulwich")~NOT interested

Southwark Council~far too busy spending our taxes on daft, expensive road "improvements"~NOT interested.

Where to turn to now, or do we just let this dilapidated sore fester?

[Louisa]

If BT agree, and the telephone itself is no longer working or used, it might be worth getting ancommunity renovation project sorted. And turning the phone box into a small trust library. I?ve seen them in Devon and Cornwall before and people even sell eggs and small homemade cakes in them!

Louisa.

[apbremer]

Brilliant idea, Louisa but tackling BT needs some serious contacts and clout, I fear. Can any ED readers help?

[maxxi]

They do this with them in Bath...

http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/05/56/51/5565173_f7ef4f52.jpg

[Robert Poste's Child]

I passed one recently which was being used as a tiny mobile phone repair shop. Very cute. Think it may be part of this lot:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/worlds-smallest-mobile-phone-repair-10507521

[Penguin68]

This links to the process document which describes the procedures that BT is obliged to follow to remove a public phone box. It is non trivial, complex (costly) and can readily be blocked by 'interested parties' who don't want to see the box go.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0035/47879/removing_callboxes.pdf

At least one argument which could be made is that there are schools around it where pupils, without or deprived of their mobile phone could summon help or assistance.

I suspect that this may be a reason why BT is reluctant to 'do anything' about it.

[Peckhampam]

Cant be that bad. I've never noticed it!

[alice]

It?s an Art installation. Nobody listens.

[rendelharris]

Can you give the location? Like peckhampam, I've never noticed, and I pass through most days!

[flocker spotter]

Why should we care ?

[tomdhu]

Why not start a U3A group to research and maintain the boxes?

[Robert Poste's Child]

I think the OP means the one in the centre of the village outside the wine shop, next to the zebra crossing. I'm sure there used to be another one at the back of the gallery but not sure if that's still there.

ETA: the one behind the gallery is still there and looking good, so probably not the one the OP means.