ALASTAIR Sutcliffe has taken up the challenge to research and save a WWII air raid shelter in Eccleston under the threat of demolition.

It is on United Utilities land. A member of the Merseyside Industrial Heritage Society has already made a complaint about a proposal to demolish it without proper study.

Alastair wrote: "There is a planning application from United Utilities regarding the site on St Helens Road, Eccleston Park, opposite the Wellington Pub towards Prescot and just past the war memorial.

"The application is to build seven new houses, retain and refurbish the water tower and cottage on the strip of land behind the fence. This entails demolishing a fifty foot long semi-underground historic WWII air raid shelter.

"Although the planning department is very sympathetic with regards the demolition of the shelter there is no preservation order on it (probably because no experts have looked at it) unless it can be proved that it is of historical importance to the area or in its construction. Unfortunately the application has been submitted with just three objections.

"The fact that just three objections have been raised means it doesn't need to go to committee.

"United Utilities have submitted this application during the summer and I personally, along with many other people, was not aware of this application until two weeks ago. We are all very concerned about the demolition about this valuable historic construction.

"We recently had celebrations for VE Day, mainly in the south of England, where millions of pounds were spent on flypasts, parades and all sorts of functions.

"Up in the north however we have had very little in the way of celebrations. I don't know what your feelings are but I think, along with many others, that this building should be saved and preserved as it is the only one in St Helens in good condition.

"It could be used as a museum and to educate schoolchildren and any interested visitors to the area.

"The planners have expressed their concerns about access on to St Helens Road for nine dwellings. Therefore I would like to put a counter proposal, that we reduce this to three new buildings and two refurbished which will ease traffic flow and allay the planners concerns and those of the three objectors.

“”We need support and representation to the council to help save this building as once it’s gone it’s gone.”

Air raid shelters were a vital part of the Home Front and it is worrying that they are likely to become extinct. I consider some of them to be locally important buildings and as Alastair suggests, communities can help give them an important role. I know some were just buried and may still be there, forgotten until re-excavated.