Town's new police station on course

This photograph shows how the creation of Bilston's new £3.5 million police station is taking shape.

The steel frame has been constructed and the West Midlands Police base in Oxford Street is on schedule to open its doors in September.

Work to replace the historic former Bilston police station in Mount Pleasant started in mid-December.

West Midlands Police spokeswoman Caroline Schubert said today: "Building work is on schedule. Everything is going to plan for the station to open in September."

Police chiefs decided that Mount Pleasant, the West Midland force's second oldest base, was no longer fit for purpose.

Councillor Phil Page, who represents Bilston North ward on Wolverhampton City Council, said he was pleased to see the new building taking shape.

"It's nice to see the police station coming along, and it will be a modern facility for this town,." he said.

It is still unclear what will happen to the old police station.

The Grade II-listed building was built in 1840 at a time when a police constable earned 17 shillings a week.

Councillor Page said that the townsfolk of Bilston were concerned over the future of the historic police station in Mount Pleasant.

"There is a lot of concern about the current police station and it would be excellent if it could be kept in use.

"We don't want it to fall into disrepair as it means a lot to this town."

In January, workers building the three-storey new police station discovered a 9ft by 82ft mineshaft at the Oxford Street site.

The shock find was made during work to stabilise the ground.

The new station faces the town's War Memorial on its public entrance site and the main Black Country Route on another.

Architect Roy Pugh, of Brierley Hill-based Jennings Homer & Lynch, has tried to reflect Bilston's historic redbrick style.