Protest over auction of Tettenhall police station

Tettenhall Police Station, situated in the High Street, has been a staple of the local community since the 1970s.

Now it is due to be sold by Bond Wolfe Auctions on Tuesday, September 10, with a guide price of £250,000 being touted by the auctioneers on behalf of West Midlands Police.

The station is no longer in use following years of funding cutbacks, along with cost-cutting measures put in place by the force itself, resulting in its eventual closure.

However, local people and councillors have been calling for a rethink on the move after a recent spate of bag snatches, distraction thefts, vehicle break-ins and increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour in the village.

Councillor Jane Stevenson said: “My colleagues and I have been fighting hard to keep the station open, as the regular police officers and community support offices who patrol the village have no base as such – nowhere to go for a break or a cup of tea.

“Luckily, the police from Penn and Tettenhall are very good and have a very public profile in the area. As well as going out on foot, they also drive around regularly and carry out reassurance patrols.

“There has been an increase in the numbers of crimes reported in the village, but the main problems seem to be incidents of anti-social behaviour, young people drinking late at night on the village green, and also the number of vehicle break-ins.

“As the government has promised to invest more money in community policing, one would think they will need more space, which is why most people in the village – and certainly all the local councillors here – would like to see the station stay,” she added.

The detached two-storey premises, built in the 1970s, contains office space and meeting rooms, with a separate store and garage at the rear, along with a gated car park.

Ian Tudor, managing director of Bond Wolfe Auctions, said: “The property is approximately 2,282 sq ft in total, and faces out onto the western side of the High Street in Tettenhall, around 2.5 miles north west of Wolverhampton city centre.

“It is an area that has a good mix of residential and retail premises, including Limes Court to the rear of it. Tettenhall College is also nearby.”