Call to save old blue police box
Shropshire residents are campaigning to save a piece of police history that has been a local landmark for decades. The old blue police box in White House Gardens, Ditherington, was used by police back in the days of capes and whistles, before officers had radios.
But developers are moving in to build six homes on the site and nearby residents want to make sure the box is restored or preserved.
Des King, pictured, who has lived in the area all his life, said: "There was also one on St Michael's Street, but that has gone now.
"It was put there years ago and the bobbies on the beat would come round to use the phone and call things in. Once the police decided they no longer needed to use it, it was just left there.
"As a person born in this area, I think it ought to be renovated and given to someone who will make use to it."
Councillor Malcolm Price, who represents the Battlefield and Heathgates ward, added: "It is quite dilapidated, but the residents would like to see it restored or preserved, or even sold on to a heritage organisation."
Police spokeswoman Maria Hawkaluk said that the council and police had considered restoring the box, but they found that it would just cost too much money.
"The item in question is an old blue police box, which held a type of telephone used by officers many years ago before they had radios," she said.
"Several years ago, the police and Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council looked into the possibility of renovating and improving the box, but it was so badly damaged that it would have cost a lot of money to restore - money which the force could not justify spending.
"There are a number of these boxes around the country, including a restored one at the West Mercia headquarters at Hindlip Hall in Worcester."
By Alys Cummings
