2:24pm Friday 27th January 2012
By Neil Docking
A SECOND World War veteran has launched a campaign to restore a wartime sign in Blackburn to its former glory.
David Atwood, 86, who fought in the Middle East in 1945, hopes to highlight three large letters, ‘EWS’, which have become obscured from view in Buncer Lane.
The luminous letters, on a wall by a former side entrance to the old Witton Park Estate, stand for Emergency Water Supply.
In 1939, in preparation for air raids by the Germans, all local authorities had to provide emergency water supplies for fighting fires, in case supplies of mains water were damaged by Nazi bombing.
Mr Atwood, of Ribchester Road, Clayton-le-Dale, is club project co-ordinator at the Rotary Club of Blackburn.
He has twice written to Blackburn with Darwen Council asking for permission for the club to remove overgrown shrubs obscuring the sign, and repaint the letters.
He said: “It’s probably one of the very few signs of its kind left in the country. I think it’s of historical importance, a reminder to people of the Second World War and a tribute to those who were in the Air Raid Precautions, and also the fire service.
“I’ve got somebody from the fire service who is anxious to come and help us with the painting, and I’d like to see a blue plaque put up so people know what it’s all about.
“We would pay for all the work. All we’re waiting for is the ‘okay’ from the council.”
Mr Atwood, who signed up for the Army at 17, said he had sought the help of the mayor, Coun Karimeh Foster.
The grandfather-of-four was previously successful in campaigning to save a wartime pillbox, at BAE Systems in Samlesbury, from demolition in 1992.
Coun Dave Harling, the council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “We are looking into whether this is possible, and will get back to him shortly.”
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