Star comment: Sharing solution is practical

Our communities rightly have an attachment to their police station. The bricks and mortar represent stability, safety and steadfastness.

So any suggestion that they should close, or move to a new location, immediately creates an impulsive response of concern.

Enter the reality of economics. Nobody should criticise Bill Longmore for looking at ways in which the closure of some stations could help balance the books. He has been given the job of finding ways to ensure effective policing in the region with a dwindling budget. He is, by necessity, looking at the situation practically, without the interference of local sentiment.

In the same way that our local purpose-built post offices have disappeared, so police stations are now under threat. And, like the example of post offices, those in charge are looking to creative solutions.

Mr Longmore, the Police Crime Commissioner for West Mercia Police, is currently reviewing the use of police stations across the county amid plans that would see officers share facilities with Shropshire Fire and Rescue teams.

The principal would be similar to that of post offices, where opening hours have increased in many cases by moving services into local shops.

Last month it was revealed that Whitchurch police station could be among the first to move into the town's fire station as part of force plans to save £30million between April 2015 and 2018. There are also questions about the future of Market Drayton police station.

Mr Longmore's idea of sharing resources could also bring back hopes of a front counter service in towns where they have recently lost a human presence. That means places like Wellington, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton, Ludlow, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Wem and Whitchurch, which have all lost their front counters, could benefit from the idea.

None of us should be under any illusion that the police service is suddenly going to be awash with money.

Cuts from central government are here to stay in the medium term, and that is a fact regardless of who is returned to power in the May general election.

That means any creative solutions to maintaining an adequate police presence must be embraced and debated.

It might be that the sharing of space between emergency services is a very practical solution that would suit all concerned.