Fears over police presence in Whitchurch being hit
Concerns have been raised about the future police presence in a town which has had confirmation its police station will be sold off.
Gerald Dakin, Shropshire Councillor for Whitchurch, said he hoped moving the police to a new base would not have an effect on crime levels in the town.
It comes after West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore confirmed that Whitchurch Police Station will be sold off, with the force currently looking for another location in the town to share a building with Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service.
The move will save police more than £60,000 a year in running costs.
Councillor Dakin said: "I think it is an excellent idea that the police and fire service share the same building.
"The current police station is over-sized for its requirements.
"I do have concerns about the police presence in the town and we need to make sure we have police cars parked up so that anyone coming in the town knows there is a presence.
"The old ambulance station would have been a good place for them to go into but that is no longer available because it has gone forward in planning for new homes.
"But I think the current fire station is very suitable for the police and fire service to share.
"The police won't need much space there and it is an excellent place to show people there are police cars there."
Mr Longmore said talks are also ongoing about the future of Bridgnorth Police Station as well as the police counter service in Shrewsbury town centre in the Riverside Shopping Centre. If both go it would generate further annual savings of almost £120,000.
