West Mercia Police share stations with other organisations in bid to cut costs

Police stations across Shropshire will be shared with other organisations to cut costs.

Agreements are being drawn up to secure new bases for officers in towns and villages. In some cases existing stations will continue to be used.

Proposals have been put forward to ensure officers retain a presence in Shifnal, Whitchurch, Oswestry and Much Wenlock.

Discussions are taking place over setting up a local hub in Pontesbury involving police and other agencies. The village's station is currently in Minsterley Road and its future is uncertain.

Police are committed to maintaining their presence but no decision has been made on the future of the station in Sandford Avenue. They are looking into collaborative opportunities with other agencies

But no arrangements have yet been confirmed for policing teams based in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Church Stretton and Pontesbury and discussions are ongoing with local groups.

Bill Longmore, West Mercia's police and crime commissioner, today said the deals were a sign of progress being made to improve policing in the county despite continuous pressure on budgets.

A range of options regarding premises and partnership projects are being explored in Bridgnorth as talks continue. The town's current police base is situated in Wenlock Road.

A solution has been found in Much Wenlock. A deal has now been confirmed for police officers in the town to move into a different part of their current building in Smithfield Road.

He also said the West Mercia force now had 74 more officers compared to when he took up his role as commissioner in 2012.

There are currently no other estate changes expected in Market Drayton, Wem or Highley.

In Oswestry part of the police station in Park Street has now been let to a partner organisation, reducing the cost of policing. It will make the station viable for the foreseeable future.

Police have reached a provisional agreement with the town council to turn the existing police station in Tudor Way into a community hub, which the police would remain a part of.

More than £1 million has been saved by either selling off or leasing out police stations across the county since 2013. Annual savings in running costs on top of this will total tens of thousands of pounds each year, according to police.

Supt Dave McWilliam, policing commander for Shropshirem said: "We have found new ways of working, new ways of organising our resources, and new partners who share common goals with us.

"All of this has helped keep the county safe during a period of transition and modernisation for police forces everywhere, and I believe equips us very well for the inevitable challenges that our officers will continue to face in the years to come."

Mr Longmore said: "The force has embraced new and innovative ways of delivering services and they deserve a lot of credit for that adaptability.

"I'm not saying everything is perfect, because it isn't.

"I wouldn't have chosen all the changes that have been introduced in recent years and some things have taken longer to progress than they should have.

"However, when you consider the fact that the Government has cut so much from police budgets I think it is excellent to see the stronger position that we are in today.

"We have then tried to give the force both the right structure and right resources to continue to provide an effective, efficient service in the future."