PLANNING permission is being sought to move a 19th-century signal box in Blakedown after Network Rail made plans to demolish it.

Churchill and Blakedown Parish Council was given the signal box in Mill Lane six months ago on the condition it could be moved. The signal box, built in 1888, is too close to the track to be used where it is.

Proposed plans involve taking down the building, brick by brick, and rebuilding it on the other side of Mill Lane.

The parish council is also planning to apply for Heritage Lottery funding to help with the cost but it needs planning permission for the application to be accepted.

Jim Long, Churchill and Blakedown parish councillor, said: “Wyre Forest District Council and community housing have agreed to let us put it on the other side of Mill Lane in a tenant’s garden.

“We also have support from Wyre Forest’s MP Mark Garnier, as he is the chairman of All Party Parliamentary Group for heritage railways.We’ve set up a historical society, which will use the signal box as a space for an exhibition. We also want public participation to find out about the history of the railway.

“The lottery funding is heritage funding so they need to understand how important it is to us.

“If it wasn’t for the railway, Blakedown wouldn’t exist. It was quite an industrial place.”

An automatic level crossing has now replaced the signal box at Blakedown.

Anyone interested in getting involved in the campaign can call Mr Long on 01562 701168.