SIR Giles Gilbert Scott died back in 1960, so he’d hardly be turning uneasily in his grave now, at what has become of one of his greatest, world-renowned inventions, the iconic, public red phone box.

He first came up with a kiosk designed in 1924, modified it in 1936 and across the following decades tens of thousands of them became landmarks in our nation’s villages, towns and cities as well as in various overseas territories.

Now, like the one shown in the illustration here, they have been mostly abandoned, left to deteriorate and, of course, to become targets for the vandals.

It is in one of the otherwise loveliest, historic parts of Southend, on the edge of the bowls green at the junction of Capel Terrace and Alexandra Street, just below the southern end of Nelson Street and across from the building that formerly was the Clifftown Congregational Church.

The kiosk door is locked. So, some vandal has at some time smashed one of the thick glass panes and piles of rubbish, cans and goodness knows what have been dumped inside, rotting and revolting on the floor.

These kiosks are but two of unknown numbers abandoned in our town. Doesn’t anyone in “authority” at BT or at Southend Council care? Doesn’t anyone think that these abandoned boxes ought to be removed, then perhaps offered for sale?

I’d have one, at some reasonable figure, if it was delivered to my back garden. Why not?

Perhaps one could be sited at the end of that most important of all of Southend’s assets and historic assets, our Pier. Perhaps others could be placed in the town’s museums. Perhaps. Somehow not likely, though.

For, if those on high really and truly cared, red phone boxes wouldn’t simply have been abandoned and left to be pilfered and plagued and abused by the sick and the yobbish, would they? Not too late for MPs to accept that here is a problem that surely is nationwide and worthy of attention and resolution.

Might the photos here perhaps happen to nudge a conscience or so? Might someone finally accept that abandoned phone boxes should be moved away, properly and safely stored and a market created for them?

I wouldn’t bet on it. Perhaps I must press button B and get my money back?