A telephone box that had fallen into disrepair has been transformed into a community library in Westcroft, Chippenham.
The iconic red box is now home to a selection of books and DVDs that residents can borrow, as well as a seed swap station, community notice board, and decorative planting.
The transformation was made possible thanks to the Queens East Community Conversations Residents Panel and donations from our suppliers, with support from Wiltshire Council and our Internal Micro Fund.
Travis Perkins MS awarded £250 from their Community Legacy Fund which bought a cabinet to display the books, as well as other items for the community library. The notice board was funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and plants were donated by a resident.
A social value contribution from one of our materials suppliers, Huws Gray, also funded paint and tools to freshen up the phone box. The final step to completing the transformation was Chippenham Shed installing a planter, with compost kindly donated by Hills Waste and greenery donated by a resident.
Residents involved in Community Conversations, an initiative by Wiltshire Council which encourages people to work together to make a difference, supported the project from start to finish.
Cllr Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “The Community Conversations programme is all about listening to residents and working together to make ideas happen. This project came together through collaboration, from the Community Conversations Queens East Residents Panel securing UK Shared Prosperity Fund for the noticeboard, to GSA helping install it, and Chippenham Shed generously donating their time to build and install the wooden planter.
“The physical transformation of the phone box has been fantastic, and it’s now home to a thriving book and DVD swap that’s proving really popular. Residents have been inspired to set up a seed swap too, and the conversations continue. It’s sparked real pride in place, with positive feedback from residents and great engagement with the local GSA Housing Officer.”
Cragi Cristofoli, Calne Branch Manager at Huws Gray Ltd, said: “It was a pleasure to donate the paint and painting accessories for the Phone Box Transformation. GSA are a valued customer of ours, so we were delighted to be given the opportunity to support this community project.”