Halesowen Police station closure plan 'to put communities at risk'
Closing Halesowen police station would put community safety at risk say councillors who have written to the police and crime commission to voice their objections.
More than 700 people signed a petition in October, launched by Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris, after it was announced by West Midlands Police that the town would lose its police station.
Dudley, Stourbridge, Kingswinford and Tettenhall are also among the 28 bases across the region that are to be closed and sold off in order to save £8.6 million.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson has backed the move and said that 'officers, not buildings' keep people safe.
But in the letter, lead by Belle Vale councillor Simon Phipps, eight out of the 12 Halesowen councillors have come forward to oppose the plans, saying the removal of the police station 'will threaten the community's safety' and urges the PCC to consider the issue before making a final decision.
The letter states: "We feel that closing Halesowen Police Station to save money when currently West Midlands Police, with your full support, have spent around £55m to purchase and renovate Lloyd House, a prime piece of real estate in the most expensive part of the West Midlands, is not giving the residents of Halesowen value for money in the service that the police provide."
Earlier this month West Midlands Police were given approval to start closures from January, but the move has sparked fury among politicians and rank and file police officers, with one MP calling a consultation of the closures 'a complete sham'.
However, Halesowen Labour councillors Ian Cooper, Donella Russell and Hilary Bills have not signed the letter to David Jamieson.
Councillor Bills said: "We won't put our names to a letter which is factually incorrect and breath-taking in its hypocrisy. Under George Osborne's austerity cuts West Midlands Police has been hit harder than anywhere else according to the independent Audit Office despite the fact that Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary rates West Midlands Police as outstandingly efficient.
"The comments about the reserves are naïve to say the least, most of the reserves are already earmarked to ensure the books can be balanced up to 2018/19. Some reserves have to be kept in case of a major incident such as a terrorist attack."
Teams currently based at all 28 of the buildings will be moved to other sites in advance of the closure dates.
Councillor Phipps added: "Whilst I am disappointed that not all Halesowen Councillors signed this letter, I am confident that this will clearly demonstrate to Mr Jamieson that the majority of Halesowen councillors are against his proposals to close our police station. We want him to put party politics aside and put the residents of Halesowen first."
