Midlands police stations as part of £20m cuts

They have been axed by West Mercia Police as it wrestles with £20 million in spending cuts.

But the cuts were today met with anger from parish councillors, with some calling for police commissioner Bill Longmore to reverse his decision.

The police station in the village of Albrighton, near Wolverhampton, will close – it is one of two that will shut without a replacement. Shifnal police station will be converted into a community policing post.

Community policing posts will replace the stations in Bewdley and Hagley.

They may be set up in existing buildings or in venues such as community centres or schools. Officers would not be based there permanently but would use them while on patrol or meeting residents.

Stourport Police Station, in Bewdley Road, will be relocated to the Civic Centre, in New Street.

There will be no changes made to Kidderminster's main police station in Habberley Road but a community base in Comberton will shut.

New police commissioner Bill Longmore said the changes – which will see 12 stations across the force area close – would save £1.5million, which was the same as 30 police officers.

Members of Albrighton Parish Council decided last night to press commissioner Mr Longmore to reverse his decision.

Parish Councillor Richard Blincoe, said: "It's disgusting. The council is going to write to the new commissioner Bill Longmore and lay it on the line: we don't want the station in Albrighton to close.

"Albrighton might not seem very large but when you add Albrighton and Cosford together there's 8,000 people and for them not to have a police station is an absolute disgrace. We have to try and save it. A lot of residents will feel strongly about this."

Albrighton and District Civic Society Peter Woodman added: "It's apparent the police force covering the area has been drastically reduced which is more worrying than the loss of the buildings themselves.

"We seem to have both negatives, losing both numbers of people and the buildings.

"We are definitely concerned, police numbers have been drastically reduced."

Mayor of Bewdley Councillor John Latham said he was disappointed by the news. He added: "It's a great shame. I understand it's to save money but in my view it's a short-sighted measure. The road from Bewdley to Kidderminster is one of the busiest around here and if the officers are further away they will not be responding as quickly.

"It's a pity a permanent base couldn't be found for them in Bewdley," he said.

It follows a reduction in the opening times for the front counters at the stations in Kidderminster and Stourport, which came into force in August.

Stourport town councillor Nigel Thomas said he was happy with the police station relocating but said it was important there was still a "police presence" in the town.

"I don't think moving the police station to the Civic Centre will make too much difference. The damage to policing in Stourport has already been done – we don't have anywhere near the amount of officers covering the town as we had."

Chairman of Hagley Parish Council, Steve Collela said he was not opposed to the closure of the station in Kidderminster Road if it meant a "more central" base could be set up in the village.

"The police station is quite far out from the centre of the village as it's on the main road. If this meant police had a more visible presence in the centre of the village then I would welcome it. I would also like to explore the option of the police using the parish council building."

The latest changes, which are subject to consultation, are expected to take up to five years to put in place. Each of the five policing areas across West Mercia will be led by a Superintendent.

There will be 11 patrol bases across West Mercia and 82 Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

Mr Longmore revealed the plans at a press conference at West Mercia's Hindlip Hall headquarters in Worcester yesterday.

"This announcement is an historic one for the entire West Mercia region.