Classic red telephone box at Wisborough Green pub to house a public library and defibrillator

Daniel Webber with the phone box at the Bat and Ball pub

Planning permission has been granted for the owners of the Grade-II listed Bat And Ball Country Pub, in Newpound, Wisborough Green, to install the phone box on its grounds.

Daniel Webber, general manager at the pub, said the idea was inspired by other examples of repurposed kiosks being put to community use.

Staff raised funds for the £4,000 phone box by holding a variety of themed quizzes at pubs, on topics from Jurrasic Park to Harry Potter.

It has now been put in place and Mr Webber said: “It looks amazing, it looks like it’s always been there.”

He said the library would be of interest to people staying at the campsite.

It will also benefit the local community, as there is no fixed physical library in the area, according to the planning documents.

The phone box will also be home to a defibrillator.

It was decided that one was needed after an incident about two years ago, in which a man walking past the pub began to suffer heart problems.

A defibrillator was fetched for him from Fisher’s Farm, which was only about 500 yards away, but Mr Webber said: “It was quite a long run to get it to him.”

The team at the pub are making the most of lockdown by kitting the phone box out with new shelves and getting it ready for use.

“It’s a good opportunity at the moment,” Mr Webber said. “Hopefully by the end of lockdown it will be done.”

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