A DISUSED phone box opposite the Premier shop at The Ham could get a new lease of life as Westbury Town Council has applied for funding to install a defibrillator.
The council was offered the opportunity to take on the ownership and management of the phone box opposite Brook Lane earlier this year and has since repainted it ahead of the potential grant funding to install a defibrillator.
Defibrillators are devices that apply an electric charge or current to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. If the heart rhythm stops due to cardiac arrest, also known as sudden cardiac arrest, a defibrillator may help it start beating again.
The chair of the council’s vision for Westbury sub-committee, cllr Mark Bailey, commented, “The phone box was badly neglected, but the vision committee looked at options to preserve it. Due to its location on the edge of town it was felt that a community use, such as a book exchange or mini gallery was not appropriate and we decided to explore the possibility of installing a defibrillator as there were none in this part of the town.
“Since then, the phone box has been restored and repainted by council staff and is now back to its former glory. We are currently applying for a grant to fund the defibrillator, and hope to raise enough money to also upgrade the other defibrillators in the town with the addition of bleed packs.
“We hope that the defibrillator will never have to be used, but it is reassuring to know that it is there if needed.”
Defibrillator locations:
• The Laverton, Bratton Rd
• The library, Edward Street
• Leigh Park Community Centre, Leigh Park Way
• Tesco Express, Fore St
• One Stop, Queens Square
• Methodist Church, Station Road
