Whiteford Calling - World Famous Phone Box in Urgent Need of Repairs

Banff & Buchan SNP candidate Eilidh Whiteford is calling on BT to take urgent action to spruce up one of the area’s unlikely visitor attractions before the tourist season gets underway.

While out campaigning in Pennan, the SNP candidate had it drawn to her attention just what a sorry state the village’s famous red telephone box was in, with the door off its hinges and in need of a lick of paint. The phone box was made famous by the 1983 film ‘Local Hero’, which was filmed in Pennan and still attracts film buffs who locals say make it one of the most-used telephone kiosks in the country.

Commenting, Eilidh said:

“Pennan is one of the iconic tourist destinations on the Moray Firth, made famous by ‘Local Hero’, which over 30 years later still draws people to the village.

“One of the biggest stars of the film is the red telephone box from where the American oil executive calls home to the USA. It was therefore very disappointing to see it in the condition it was in, badly in need of a spruce-up and with the door propped-up against the wall having come off its hinges.

“I’ve contacted BT on the matter and I hope that they will take action to remedy the situation in time for the tourist season.”

Local SNP councillor for Pennan, Ross Cassie added:

“It was very sad to see this cinema icon in such a poor state. Even on a rainy afternoon when I went to see it, Pennan was full of tourists, many of them taking photographs of the phone box. I hope BT will get this repaired soon.”

Small Business Interest in Referendum Campaign Peaks at Fraserburgh Super Saturday

Local YES campaign shop inundated with interest from local small businesses​
Fraserburgh, 17 June: Local Yes campaigners set up shop at the latest Fraserburgh Super Saturday at the weekend.​

​The event, which is organised by the Fraserburgh Development Trust and the Fraserburgh Forward Business Association, was another success for the town - with a range of local businesses setting up temporary stalls in the town's Saltoun Square.
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The local Yes campaign also got in on the weekend's action, setting up a temporary shop on the corner of the Square and being on hand to answer people's questions on everything from fishing to support for small business in an independent Scotland.

Local campaign organiser Ross Cassie commented:

"The Yes shop was queued out the door with folk interested in what an independent Scotland could mean for the town."

"This event goes to show how important it is to support local small business. Small and medium businesses make up around 90% of Scotland's businsesses and employ 50% of the workforce. It's important to support that - which the Scottish Government has been doing with a Small Business Bonus, which offers business rates relief. Our argument is that with the full powers of independence, we will be able to do so much more for our small employers."

​The local Yes campaign is encouraging local businesses to attend a special referendum event for business. The event will take place on August 22 at the Leisure Centre in Peterhead and will be an opportunity for local business people to ask what an independent Scotland might mean for their businesses.