Petition demanding Halesowen Police Station stay open handed to PCC

Halesowen MP James Morris, Belle Vale Councillor Simon Phipps and Halesowen North campaigner Mitchell Bolton visited Birmingham to give the 600-name petition to the PCC Simon Foster.

Plans unveiled by West Midlands Police last autumn outlined proposals to close the stations in Brierley Hill and Halesowen and build a new ‘super station’ in Dudley, that would house the neighbourhood teams and the forces to respond to 999 calls.

Local Conservative politicians such as Mr Morris have been critical of the plans, introduced by a Labour PCC, however the PCC himself has blamed the cuts on the Tory government's lack of funding.

In the last 10 years Halesowen has lost its magistrates court, fire station, ambulance station and the public front desk of the police station. Similar proposals were also put forward and then withdrawn to close the station entirely five years ago.

Mr Morris said: "Having campaigned in previous years against the closure of Halesowen Police Station, I was disappointed to see that another PCC has come forward again with plans to close it and relocate resources nearly six miles away.

"Our force is benefitting from nearly £40m in extra funding this year, as well as extra officers through the Government’s major recruitment drive, and I do not believe there is a case to be made for the closure of our station.

"Over the past year I’ve working with police, councillors and local residents in Halesowen on a number of issues, including speeding on Long Lane, anti-social behaviour in and around Hawne Park, a rise in burglaries and car crime on the Abbeyfields Estate and issues with car cruising along the A456. The local knowledge of police officers, and their ability to respond to major incidents quickly, is key to reassuring residents that their communities are safe.

"I hope that the PCC will take note of local opinion and reconsider these proposals."

Belle Vale Councillor Simon Phipps said: "Both this Police and Crime Commissioner and the previous one have had their priorities for local policing all wrong. West Midlands Police have spent vast sums on prime real estate in city-centre Birmingham whilst closing community police stations and moving police further away from the areas they serve.

"It's not too late for him to change course, and recognise the need to have police officers based in the area they protect. The vast majority of residents in Halesowen will be waiting to see if he will be brave enough to admit that he has this wrong.”

Halesowen North campaigner Mitchell Bolton added: "A lot of residents in Halesowen North have expressed concerns with speeding issues on Long Lane, which cause a danger to other drivers, parked vehicles and pedestrians. Only by having a police presence in Halesowen where officers have good local knowledge can we really get on top of these issues.

"I’m grateful that so many people have taken the time make their voices heard, and I hope the PCC will reconsider his decision to close Halesowen Police Station."

The PCC has previously blamed the closure of stations across the West Midlands on the budget cuts from the Government.