Above: a gallery of old nick pix

Curiously described by the estate agents as 'land for sale', Heswall's former police station has been put back on the market.

This follows the recent election of Emily Spurrell as Merseyside's Police and Crime Commissioner.

The station is again being marketed as a 'development and redevelopment opportunity', as it is considered suitable 'for conversion or development for mixed use purposes to include residential, retail, restaurant etc.'

The asking price is undisclosed - prospective buyers can find out on application.

On the face of it, the prospects for a quick sale are not good.

After Heswall's cop shop was deemed surplus to requirements by a shake-up of local policing announced in 2014, the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner tried to offload the building and its land when vacated, but there were no successful takers during the three years the station was on the market.

This is perhaps due to the fact that the station's facade, which makes it one of the few distinctive buildings in Heswall, cannot be tampered with, making conversion by developers into flats, retail space, convenience store, a restaurant or even a boutique hotel - all ideas which were originally floated by the PCC's agent - that little bit more difficult and expensive.

In August 2018, the Heswall Society tried valiantly to have the station listed, but was rebuffed by Historic England.

The station is a part single, part two storey building of traditional brick construction built in 1911, and designed by the respected architect Harry Beswick.

Internally, there are a number of linked rooms and offices at ground and first floor, with the two areas at the first floor being accessed by separate staircases.

Internal space amounts to 6,700 square feet, while outside, of course, are many car park spaces, currently enjoyed by shoppers at Marks and Spencer.

Earlier this year, Heswall Nub News mused on the station's future - floating the idea that it could somehow be turned into a community building that served youngsters by night and weekends and holidays, and older audiences at all other times. You can read the feature by clicking or tapping here.

There are precious few facilities in Heswall for under-18s, but there is also precious little public money.

At a time when demand for flats seems insatiable, when planners are under pressure to permit the building of homes, and when the local property market remains vibrant, the old nick's fate seems certain.

But maybe it's at least worth imagining an alternative.