The best and worst of... Small market town... Big issues...
(And no that is not the real council's crest, this one even has 3 roast chickens on it)
The best and worst of... Small market town... Big issues...
(And no that is not the real council's crest, this one even has 3 roast chickens on it)
21st MAY 2024
Three councillors, who were mocked a bit on a national Facebook group called "Angry People in Local Newspapers" have scored a win for Ross-on-Wye. Now don't get excited, but the win is for a public phone box to remain in place up near JKHS.
Get in!
...and that's exactly what they'd all done at the phone box for a photo.
This was all to much amusement on the comedy Facebook group and in other social media re-posts. It was pointed out that in their collective garb of slightly aging but practical outdoor jackets or country attire (represented in a 2 to 1 ratio as one of them had opted for a tweed-like jacket and farmers shirt combo) that they seemed to resemble Compo, Foggy and Clegg from the popular TV series 'Last of the Summer Wine' that ran from 1973 as they squeezed into the phone box.
Who were these local heroes? Well, you might know them better as Cllrs Chris Bartrum and Louis Stark, along with Cllr Ed O'Driscoll who had the important duty of holding the phone, posed with a stern expression which looked a little bit like he'd just ordered some chocolate ice cream for his pudding at the Royal Hotel only to be told they'd run out. Of course, it was probably a sort of amateur dramatics-style comedy expression pulled to communicate anger at the possibility the phone box was being removed - perhaps it worked! (although it was unlikely to have held much sway with British Telecom).
Well the good news is that these plucky councillors have scored a success, and the phone box is to remain open! It is not as yet understood if some kind of 'keeping-it-open ceremony' will take place, but publicity with a photo op is something that's usually leapt upon.
These councillors are also county councillors, so if they can reverse the closure of a phone box, perhaps the sky's the limit!
On a serious note, the phone box remaining open provides a service for those without landlines and mobile phones and therefore it is an important community resource. Important emergency calls can also be made from phone boxes.