TWO OF the town’s remaining phone boxes could be gutted and turned into vending machines.

Situated adjacent to the police station on Epping High Street, the boxes were designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in 1935.

In plans submitted to Epping Forest District Council by Giving Hands Charity Trust, a homeless outreach organisation, it is proposed the telephones are removed from the boxes.

In their place would be a greetings card vending machine in one, and a stationery vending machine in the other.

The application reads: “The proposed change of use of the telephone box to A1 will enhance the longevity of this iconic street landmark.

“Mobile phones and the often poor condition of the telephone boxes have led to the demise of their use as public telephone box.

“Many local authorities have embraced the change of use as they have acknowledged that whilst the telephone box remains an integral part of the street scene, their longevity can only be sustained by redefining their use.”