Think Marketing Comment On Police Boxes Going On Sale In Edinburgh

May 1, 2012 - PRLog -- Think Marketing were interested to hear recently that more than 20 of Edinburgh's iconic police boxes have gone on sale. The two tonne boxes, which were designed by city architect Ebenezer MacRae between 1931 and 1933, are being sold individually. The closing date for offers on the 22 boxes, which have had no price set on them, is 31 May 2012 at noon. The money made by the sale will go towards the Force Capital Investment Programme.

“It’s a great opportunity for collectors,” said a source at Think Marketing, “These boxes are a real piece of the history of the city. I can imagine the appeal for fans of Doctor Who too.” The police box found fame on BBC series Doctor Who, as the time machine TARDIS. Their design incorporates the Edinburgh City crest and some have saltire patterned cast iron mouldings.

Written offers must be submitted in a sealed official Council Offer envelope and successful purchasers must pay a sales fee of £100 in addition to the sale price. Successful buyers must remove the box from the street or get planning permission from the council for it to stay there. If the box gains planning permission it must have the police blue colour changed. The boxes are deemed street furniture rather than residential property.

Our source at Think Marketing said, “With modern policing methods in use, there is no longer any need for the police boxes, but they might make some collector very happy. The sale will also cut maintenance costs for the police, and it wouldn’t be the end of the boxes either. There are still many more in existence which might be sold off at a later date.”

The 22 police boxes are in Cowgate, Cranston Street, Croal Place (Albert St), Dalkeith St, Joppa, Drumsheugh Gardens, Easter Road, Hunter Square, Lawnmarket, Magdala Crescent, Market Street, Marshall Street, Melville Drive, Newbattle Terrace, Newcraighall Road (Wisp), Princes Street (West End), Quality Street, Regent Road, Rutland Square, The Shore, Leith, Whitehouse Loan, West Register Street, Whitepark and Gorgie.

Sara Griffiths, Lothian and Borders Police property manager, said: “When these boxes were introduced they would have proved invaluable to officers, but as technology and policing methods evolved a number of them have now become obsolete. “