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| Criggion radio station: Ex-WWII centre 'left to rot' | Criggion radio station: Ex-WWII centre 'left to rot' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A formerly secret World War II and Cold War naval communications centre in Powys has been branded a blot on the landscape after years of vandalism. | A formerly secret World War II and Cold War naval communications centre in Powys has been branded a blot on the landscape after years of vandalism. |
| The Criggion radio station near Welshpool shut a decade ago but since then has been "abandoned and left to rot", claims a local councillor. | The Criggion radio station near Welshpool shut a decade ago but since then has been "abandoned and left to rot", claims a local councillor. |
| Graham Brown said its buildings are the target of thieves, they have smashed windows and are littered with cans. | |
| Owner BT said its future was under review and it would clear the rubbish. | Owner BT said its future was under review and it would clear the rubbish. |
| For 60 years the Criggion station and its three 700ft (210m) radio masts and three 600ft (180m) towers were a part of the scenery near Welshpool on the Powys/Shropshire border. | For 60 years the Criggion station and its three 700ft (210m) radio masts and three 600ft (180m) towers were a part of the scenery near Welshpool on the Powys/Shropshire border. |
| Built during WWII, it was used to keep the Admiralty in contact with Royal Navy ships around the world. | Built during WWII, it was used to keep the Admiralty in contact with Royal Navy ships around the world. |
| When the war ended the site became a signal relay station for nuclear submarines during the Cold War, as well as for overseas telephone communications. | When the war ended the site became a signal relay station for nuclear submarines during the Cold War, as well as for overseas telephone communications. |
| It closed in 2003 and the masts were demolished, but the buildings soon became a target for thieves and vandals, said Mr Brown, a local Powys county councillor. | It closed in 2003 and the masts were demolished, but the buildings soon became a target for thieves and vandals, said Mr Brown, a local Powys county councillor. |
| Mr Brown said: "BT has made promises before to clear the rubbish. They do something in the short term but then the site gets back into a bad state again. | Mr Brown said: "BT has made promises before to clear the rubbish. They do something in the short term but then the site gets back into a bad state again. |
| "The buildings have been boarded up but the timber around the doorways has been removed and anyone can get in. | "The buildings have been boarded up but the timber around the doorways has been removed and anyone can get in. |
| "Glass has been smashed and is all over the floor inside and thieves have taken all the wiring and anything else of note inside the buildings." | "Glass has been smashed and is all over the floor inside and thieves have taken all the wiring and anything else of note inside the buildings." |
| Mr Brown said beer cans also littered the buildings inside and out. | Mr Brown said beer cans also littered the buildings inside and out. |
| Anti-nuclear | Anti-nuclear |
| They are in the shadow of Rodney's Pillar, a monument erected in 1782 on the summit of the nearby Breidden hill. | They are in the shadow of Rodney's Pillar, a monument erected in 1782 on the summit of the nearby Breidden hill. |
| "The area is popular with walkers heading for Rodney's Pillar, but the buildings are a blot on the landscape," added Mr Brown, who is also the Powys council cabinet member responsible for regeneration and planning. | "The area is popular with walkers heading for Rodney's Pillar, but the buildings are a blot on the landscape," added Mr Brown, who is also the Powys council cabinet member responsible for regeneration and planning. |
| "There's a quarry nearby but that's a working environment - the old Criggion station has been abandoned and left to rot and decay." | "There's a quarry nearby but that's a working environment - the old Criggion station has been abandoned and left to rot and decay." |
| A spokesman for BT said: "BT is considering its position as leaseholder of this site and the site's future is currently under review. | A spokesman for BT said: "BT is considering its position as leaseholder of this site and the site's future is currently under review. |
| "We will visit the site in the coming weeks to remove any rubbish that may have been dropped there. " | "We will visit the site in the coming weeks to remove any rubbish that may have been dropped there. " |