Disused Fulham Phone Box to Answer Calls for Coffee
Charity aims to serve food and drinks from Parsons Green kiosk
The existing Co-op store on North End Road
A disused and dilapidated phone box in Parsons Green could soon have a new role as a food and coffee stall.
An application has been submitted to H&F Council on behalf of Red Box Charitable Trust to turn the traditional K2 box on the corner of Kings Road and Crondace Road into a retail kiosk offering takeaway food and drinks.
The application is as follows:
2022/00962/LBC | Change of use of the telephone kiosk into a retail kiosk vending takeaway on the basis of selling coffee, tea, other hot and cold drinks and pre-prepared, packaged food items; external refurbishment to include replacement of the existing glass panels with 4mm-thick thermally toughened soda lime silicate safety glass, and introduction of a hinge installed behind the existing ''PULL'' plate; internal alterations to include removal of the redundant phone apparatus and installation of a new fully self-contained modular unit; associated internal and external alterations.
The trust is taking part in BT’s Adopt a Kiosk scheme, which invites community groups and charities to find new uses for traditional phone boxes in their areas.
Red Box Charitable Trust was established to support people in need, with a focus on supporting young people and says this proposal is part of a scheme aimed at creating employment for young people facing barriers into employment. A proportion of profits from the kiosk will go to local charities supporting local young people in need.
Another phone box has been converted into a book exchange
In its application, the trust says, “ The kiosk is currently in a poor state of repair with broken glass panels and covered with a significant amount of graffiti. Internally the kiosk smells strongly of stale urine and contains a significant amount of rubbish deposited by passers-by. It would be fair to say that the kiosk constitutes a health hazard to the local community.
“ This proposal will restore the kiosk to its original state and secure its long term maintenance and future as a Grade II listed Heritage Asset.”
It adds that the kiosk, which is in a conservation area as well as being Grade II listed, will provide customers with a COVID safe way to purchase coffee and food, and says: “Careful consideration has been given to updating the use of the phone kiosk but at the same time retaining its character. The external appearance of the phone kiosk will be unaltered.”
Some disused phone boxes now house defibrillators
BT says that over 5,000 communities have already taken part in the Adopt a Kiosk scheme, which costs just £1 to join. Phone boxes have been transformed into everything from miniature art galleries to book exchange hubs and around 1,000 across the country are now housing lifesaving defibrillators.
In London, around 90 have already been transformed with over 500 boxes still available, including five in Hammersmith and Fulham waiting to be saved. Find out more about the scheme on this link.
June 13, 2022
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