New £10m police station on track

A £10 million police station in the Black Country will open its doors in February, with work now completed on the exterior.

Construction on the project in West Bromwich began in April last year and workers are now completing the final work inside the building.

Once police officers have moved in to the new base from the existing station in New Street, it will be demolished to make way for the new £200 million Tesco development.

The landmark building stands at the corner of Bowater Street and Moor Street in the Lyng area of the town.

The three-storey, terracotta and glass structure is the town's new headquarters and a total of 340 police officers will be based there. Architects worked closely with West Midlands Police when designing the station, which has been funded by Tesco as part of its masterplan in the town, a move which has been criticised as a "bribe".

Tony Fletcher, corporate affairs manager for Tesco said: "The exterior of the building has now been competed and it is hoped the police station will open at the beginning of February.

"There is now just the internal work to complete."

Once the officers have transferred across the the new site, work on the the 37-acre shopping and leisure complex can begin in earnest. Work is set to begin on the construction of the

Tesco development in May. The scheme will include a Tesco Extra store, shops, restaurant and a cinema, along with a 70-bedroom hotel, 217,000 sq ft of high street shops, car-parking and a public area.

Later this week preparatory roadworks are set to begin in the­ town centre to make way for a new ring road.

Tesco's commitment to build a new police station has been criticised nationally, with Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman claiming the offer is tantamount to a bribe.

However Sandwell councillors have hit back. Cabinet Councillor Ian Jones said: "The reality is that Tesco has shown a commitment to West Bromwich. Without the firm's participation, the town would not be getting the regeneration it desperately needs."