SOLIHULL Council house could become the new home for a police front desk when the Homer Road site closes.
At the full Council meeting last month Councillor Ian Courts, the leader of Solihull Council, confirmed the Manor Square site is among the options been explored to relocate Solihull police station once it closes its doors.
He said: “We think that the Council House site is potentially a great solution to offer a joined up approach and our respective estate teams, our officers, are working out the technical detail of what is required so that we can present the best option for a wider discussion and consultation
“Co-locating on the Council House site may well be a sensible solution that aligns with the issues raised by the hybrid working for instance and indeed pubic organisations working together.
“This administration and our two MPs and Councillors have been campaigning for many many years now about the need to retain a proper police station for Solihull and I am heartened it is good that we seem to be making progress on this matter which is so important for the residents of the borough.”
This isn’t the first time a location has been earmarked – last year Coun Courts said a site near to the bus station and entrance to Poplar Road – which the council purchased as part of Mell Square – was offered to the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Simon Foster.
So far a decision has yet to be made.
Mr Foster said: “We are working constructively with Solihull Council on their plans for the town centre. Discussions are ongoing with the local authority.”
Mr Foster has proposed the Homer Road site will close by autumn 2025 after approving plans from the force’s former Chief Constable for what it needs to provide an effective police service in the region.
In 2018 the former PCC, David Jamieson, approved controversial proposals to sell off the Homer Road station as part of wider plans to save £5million and protect officer jobs across the West Midlands region.
The original date for closure was ‘late 2020’ but this was delayed due to the pandemic.
Both Mr Foster and Mr Jamieson committed to not closing the Solihull station until a location for a new front desk had been found.
