VINTAGE cast iron electricity cabinets could be saved from removal if community groups take on the maintenance of them.

Scottish Power has offered those who are interested the chance after they said they cannot refurbish the cabinets to modern standards.

According to the Glasgow Heritage Trust, the cast iron cabinets were used as a network of city-wide power stations to provide electricity to local areas and have been present across the city since the 19th century.

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In an email seen by the Glasgow Times, the energy giant confirmed that they are not proactively replacing cabinets, but do remove them when they suffer internal failure or structural damage.

The e-mail went on to say:”When we replace these with modern alternatives we are happy to transfer the ownership of the shell of the pillar (in situ) to local community groups or the council if they want these and are prepared to take on ongoing maintenance and other ownership responsibilities.

"Unfortunately, the small size of these means that these do not lend themselves to other repurposing as we have seen with historic BT phone boxes or police phone boxes.

“If local community groups or the council were also interested in receiving shells of pillars removed from the street for relocation or repurposing then this could also be facilitated.

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“Going forward, we will offer these pillars for adoption into the community or the council.

We reported last summer about the local community’s concerns surrounding the removal of the electricity boxes.

The Dennistoun Conservation Society encouraged those living in the area to document the cast iron boxes, which are emblazoned with the Glasgow coat of arms and were part of attempts to “beautify” the city’s streets, according to Niall Murphy of the Glasgow Heritage Trust. He said: “There have been calls for the cabinets to be saved and reused as something else.

“They were an attempt to beautify the streetscape but now people just see the modern ones as clutter.

“You could put them to good use - when you look at the old police kiosks they’ve been used as cafes and things like that.”

Scottish Power previously told the Glasgow Times that attempts would be made to look at alternative ways to use the cabinet. A spokesperson said: “The works are part of a modernisation and investment programme designed to ensure our network meets the necessary health, safety and sustainability standards of a modern electricity network in the UK.

“We understand the importance of local heritage and are happy to explore alternative options for undertaking these necessary works, and will be back in touch once we’ve had a chance to consider this further.”