Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Cheshire Police considers closing two stations and selling another

TWO police stations may be shut and be sold off and another moved to help save �36.5 million.

Police chiefs are considering closing stations in Congleton and Holmes Chapel and also moving Alsager police station and selling its current site in Crewe Road.

It comes as the force prepares to make �36.5 million cuts from its annual budget of �178 million by 2015.

The closures would leave stations in Crewe, Sandbach, Nantwich and Middlewich open, as well as those in Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Knutsford.

The proposals, which are outlined in the force's Estates Strategy 2011-2014, are to be discussed at meeting of Cheshire Police Authority next week.

The move means that officers would be based at fewer locations in a bid to save management costs which can then be pumped into frontline policing.

The proposals are:

To consider selling Congleton police station and explore joint development options with partners;

To move Alsager police station into another building for joint use;

To put Holmes Chapel police station up for sale next month.

Chief Constable David Whatton said: "The principle that underpins this strategy is to work with partners to share accommodation, in order to improve space utilisation and reduce costs.

"By working together with our partners we can deliver improved facilities and management services, lower maintenance costs and a higher sustainability profile."

Despite police chiefs vowing to maintain neighbourhood policing, officer numbers are expected to fall from 2,060 in March this year to 1,847 by March 2015 – a reduction of 213.

In addition, 446 police staff posts are expected to go over the same period.

Ernie Clarke, chairman of Buglawton Community Group, said: "There is a developer wanting to buy Congleton police station, along with the library and old council offices.

"I don't think people will be bothered if it closes as you can't get inside to report anything anyway. There's just a phone on the wall outside."

Hugh Emerson, secretary of Crewe and District Pensioners' Association, said: "We've got to accept there will be changes because money can't be saved by doing the same things that have always been done.

"I want to see what the police are doing to reduce their management costs. Selling off police stations is an option if they are no longer used effectively."

The Sentinel reported last week that six police stations in North Staffordshire could be shut and sold to help save �20 million from Staffordshire Police's �190 million budget.



Source: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/32715/f/503368/s/12beb47c/l/0L0Sthisisstaffordshire0O0Cnews0CPOLICE0ECLOSE0ESTATIONS0Carticle0E32290A870Edetail0Carticle0Bhtml/story01.htm

Birmingham City Mark Zuckerberg Highlands Property Food and drink Crime

No comments:

Post a Comment