Call to use Bishop's Castle centre as police contact point

Bill Longmore, Shropshire's new police commissioner, is now to be asked to set up such a contact point for Bishop's Castle residents. The campaign is being spearheaded by Enterprise South West Shropshire. It is based at Enterprise House in Bishop's Castle.

The building also houses the public library, the registrar's office, a branch of the South Shropshire Housing Association and Dial-a-Ride.

Peter Phillips, chairman of the social enterprise company, said Mr Longmore had accepted an invitation to visit the company's headquarters to discuss the possibility of "substantially improving access to the police" by offering an official contact point in Enterprise House. He added: "The police station in Bishop's Castle is seldom open and then quite unpredictably.

"Enterprise House is open five and a half days a week. It is very much a community hub and local people are used to coming in. When we lodged the idea with the police authority last summer they dismissed it without even bothering to come and see us but we hope the new commissioner will be more interested."

Mike Ashwell, manager of the centre, added: "It will be good for Mr Longmore to visit, look over our premises and discuss the practicalities."

West Mercia Police spokesman Richard Ewels said police station opening times across Shropshire and West Mercia as a whole were clearly listed on the force website at www.westmercia.police.uk/contact-us/find-a-police-station

Bishop's Castle is listed as not being staffed on the public service counter.

Inspector Rob Thomas, in charge of policing for south Shropshire, said members of the town's Safer Neighbourhood Team spent the majority of their time away from the station working in the community helping prevent crime and providing visible reassurance.

He said if an officer was in the building they would always try to assist anyone knocking on the door or answering enquiries made by people using the phone on the outside of the station.