Tadley police station to close

Shared premises with fire station is one relocation option under consideration by police force

TADLEY police may have to share a premises with fire station staff as Hampshire Constabulary has decided to close the town's police station.

Following yesterday's (Thursday's) meeting of Hampshire Police Authority in Winchester, the authority announced the pending closure, prior to sale, of 18 police stations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight - including Tadley police station, in Mulford's Hill.

The move is part of the force's bid to slash up to £50m from police estates budgets.

In a statement released yesterday, the authority confirmed approval had been given for the rationalisation of its estate and the development of four new custody centres, at Hook, Fareham, Winchester and Newport.

Chairwoman of the authority, Jacqui Rayment, said: “The authority has been assured by the chief constable that safer neighbourhood policing teams will not be leaving local areas, but moving to new locations within the same communities. The move to new premises will allow frontline policing services to be at the heart of the communities they serve.”

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has confirmed that one option being considered was for police staff to share its fire station buildings.

Hampshire fire spokeswoman, Jo Gray, said: “We are working with Hampshire Police Authority to see if there's opportunity to maximise use of buildings and are working with them as to specific requirements."

However, she was unable to comment further on the feesibility of staff currently accommodated at Tadley Police station - which includes six police officers, five police community support officers and one civilian member of staff - being accommodated at Tadley fire station, in Franklin Avenue.

A paper will be brought to the next Hampshire Police Authority authority meeting on September 27 outlining all the options available for a proposed core headquarters for Hampshire Police, a purpose built operational centre in Chandlers Ford.

For more on this story see Thursday's (June 30) NWN.