Anger at Black Country police station closures
Planned police station closures are 'unfair and unnecessary' according to a MP after dates to shut the doors were confirmed.
Closure dates for 13 police stations in the Black Country, including several in the Wolverhampton area, have been confirmed as part of £8.6 million cuts by West Midlands Police.
West Midlands Police is shutting 28 stations in total across its area, with some being axed and others sold.
Heath Town and Graiseley will shut on January 31 alongside others in Great Barr and Netherton.
More Wolverhampton stations, at Oxley, Pennwood Court and Staveley House, will all shut on March 30, and Tettenhall closes on February 28 2017.
Elsewhere, Dudley station will go on August 31. Kingswinford police station is expected to close within the next 18 months.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said the the force had to take 'difficult decisions'.
But Dudley South MP Mike Wood, whose constituency covers two affected stations, Netherton and Kingswinford, said the move would impact on the town.
"There is no requirement for the commissionaire to pursue his plans to close stations in Kingswinford and Netherton," he said.
"The Government, following representation from MPs like myself, has changed the formula for funding forces such as West Midlands Police and as a result its budget will not face any budget reductions.
"Therefore the reasons for closing any of the named stations is no longer viable."
Mr Jamieson said that Government cuts had impacted on the force which had had to prioritise.
"Between 2010 and 2015 West Midlands Police was cut harder than any other force in the country which means we still have difficult decisions to make," he said previously.
"My priority is always will be people not buildings. Many people from across the political divide have realised this."
"The overriding view of police professionals is that officers, not buildings keep people safe."
