Over the years that I have been involved with Wyre Forest in a political context, I have never failed to be impressed with enormous contribution made by volunteers. I see it wherever I go – from local clubs through to community groups and support groups. Volunteers organise the scouts, they operate food banks, they run sports clubs, in a private capacity they act as carers for relations, in an organisation they run large commercial charities such as the Severn Valley Railway, and in special cases they gather together to build community assets.

I have seen many village halls built or refurbished as a result of communities getting together – Rock, Areley Kings, and Wribbenhall to name but three of many across the patch. But the most unusual all of them all was opened last weekend in Blakedown.

The community asset in question is an old railway signal box. Originally built in 1888, it became redundant as an operating asset some time ago, as signalling became more centralised and automated. It fell into disrepair and was destined for demolition, but the local parish council saw its potential and its value as a heritage asset. But it was in the wrong place.

Network Rail, the owners, were happy to work with the local council to help save it and were happy to give the signal box to the community as long as they moved it. They were given plenty of time to sort out arrangements and Wyre Forest Community Housing stepped in to give a small patch of land next to the level crossing at Blakedown to accommodate the building. Over the next four years, the community worked together to raise the money to pay for the deconstruction and then rebuilding of the two story signal box, complete with a disabled lift, and last Sunday I was given the privilege of opening the newly refurbished box in its new location.

The upper story no longer has all the levers and panels of a working signal box, but is an open, light and airy space that is available at a small rent to anyone who wants to use it.

Yet again, community volunteers have made our local area just a little bit better, through an extraordinary amount of work. I never fail to be impressed by their achievements and I never fail to be grateful for all their work. The world would be a lesser place without volunteers.