Ello, ello, ello – what’s all this then?

Engineers have dismantled and removed Almondbury’s Tardis-like police box ready for repair.

Engineers prepare to move Almondbury's listed historic police box
Engineers prepare to move Almondbury's listed historic police box

Now Kirklees councillor Bernard McGuin is keen to secure its future when it returns to its position at Northgate.

Inside Almondbury's listed historic police box
Inside Almondbury's listed historic police box

West Yorkshire Police’s estates department called in contractors earlier this year to restore the grade II listed structure to its former glory. It had been hoped to repair the police box on site but it was found to be in a worse condition than first thought and has been taken away to be repaired in workshops. Problems include rotten floorboards which threatened to give way under foot.

Clr McGuin said: “Originally, it was planned to remove it and have it back in the middle of March. Now it’s supposed to be by the end of April – but with Easter coming up that’s probably stretching it. It took a long time to get the electricity and water supplies disconnected so everything has been skewed.”

Engineers prepare to move Almondbury's listed historic police box
Engineers prepare to move Almondbury's listed historic police box

Clr McGuin said efforts to find an alternative use for the police box were proving difficult.

He added: “The box is not used by the police and it is unlikely to be used in service in the future. We are looking for a permanent solution because we don’t want it to be in the same poor condition in three years time.”