Four Shropshire police stations to shut in cost-saving move

Four Shropshire police stations are to close in a cost-cutting move, with officers moving to share other town buildings instead.

Whitchurch, Wem and Bridgnorth stations will close, along with Shrewsbury’s smaller town centre police post in the Riverside Centre, and officers will instead share buildings with fire service, NHS and council staff.

West Mercia’s Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said the move would allow more money to be spent on front-line police officers.

He said a review of police buildings had found that a number were not being fully used and that the current service could be improved.

The Shrewsbury post will move to the town’s library on Castle Street.

Wem and Whitchurch police will both share buildings with the NHS, with the former moving into the Community Clinic on Aston Street, and the latter at Whitchurch Community Hospital on the town’s Claypit Street.

Bridgnorth police will move from The Wheatlands to the town’s fire station on Innage Lane.

Under the proposals it is expected Whitchurch, which is already for sale, and Bridgnorth will be sold while leases on Wem and Shrewsbury will simply not be renewed.

Why the PCC says he wants to move each station:

• The current Bridgnorth Police Station is too large.

• Wem Police Station is also too large.

• Whitchurch Police Station is no longer fit for purpose and a modernisation would cost too much to make it suitable.

• Shrewsbury's Town Centre Police Post in the Riverside Centre is poorly located. Being based in the library will mean the team is more centrally located for communities to access police services and enable closer working with partners.

Mr Campion said the move would mean people would have more access to police.

He said: “Our police force needs to be in fit-for-purpose buildings that support the new technology we are introducing.

"It is also important that, whilst doing this, we are identifying savings and ways of working better and more closely with partners.

“Placing the safer neighbourhood teams in shared spaces that are regularly accessed by members of the public will allow the police, and their services, to be made even more accessible than they were before.”

The decisions come as a result of a review of all the police buildings in the county.

Last week it was revealed talks are taking place over Shrewsbury’s main police station at Monkmoor, that could see it close, with staff moved to Shirehall.

Top cop backs plans

A senior police officer today backed the move to close stations and move officers into community buildings.

Chief Superintendent Kevin Purcell, who is the police lead for Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire, said he was supportive of moves to promote frontline policing, adding: “I would like to reassure our local communities that the affected locations will maintain a presence in each town and they will continue to be policed by the same familiar officers they are used to seeing.

“I am in favour of any efficiencies that help keep officer numbers stable. It’s important to recognise it is officers and staff who protect people from harm, not the building they are based in.”

What do the town mayors think?

The decision was also given a cautious welcome by town leaders – as long as it mean officers remain on the beat.

Bridgnorth mayor Ron Whittle said: “To move somewhere more appropriate in size makes economic sense.”

Councillor Whittle added that he hoped changes to policing would benefit Bridgnorth residents.

He said: “In more general terms what they have done now is put dedicated teams back in to the area.

"I regard this as very positive because up to now for some time the police allocated to Bridgnorth have been based in Telford. They have been spending little time in Bridgnorth, which has been leading to concern.”

Ed Towers, mayor of Wem, said: “We have been very happy with where the police station is but we do understand there are other forces at play and if there is a move this is the best we could possibly hope for.”

Whitchurch’s mayor, Councillor Tony Neville, welcomed the continued police presence in the Whitchurch but said there are concerns over parking space.

He said: “Whitchurch Town Council, although concerned that the police station is closing, is pleased to hear that the safer neighbourhood team will still have physical a presence in the town.”

Councillor Alan Mosley, leader of Shrewsbury Town Council, said he was in favour of the move.

He added: “It makes sense to fully utilise the extremely important buildings in town, of which the library is paramount given its listed status.

“Co-location of public assets clearly makes sense in terms of value for money and proximity to partners and the very successful Team Shrewsbury project.”