A GLIMMER of hope has emerged that could see the planned closure of Solihull Police Station halted.
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 Police force were given the green light by the region’s Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson in 2018.
However all this could be reversed if plans to turn part of the building into offices for other government departments are given the go ahead.
Earlier this year Michael Gove, Minister for the Cabinet Office, announced plans to move civil servants out of London and into the regions.
Following this Mr Jamieson has written to Mr Gove asking if some could be moved to the West Midlands.
Mr Jamieson, said: “I hope MPs and senior politicians across the political spectrum get behind these proposals that would support the government’s levelling up agenda in the West Midlands, help struggling high streets and has the potential to support police sites in their current locations.”
If successful the PCC believes the scheme could keep the police presence where it currently is, provide an income stream to boost local police resources and reduce the burden on the force maintaining underused buildings.
In 2018 it was announced the Solihull station would close in ‘late 2020’ – however this has been delayed due to the pandemic.
Mr Jamieson said: “It is likely that the estates programme will be delayed by the covid crisis.
“Nevertheless, I have been very clear, there will be a police station in the centre of Solihull, with a front desk which is accessible to the public.
“We have lost more than 2,000 officers since 2010 and are only due to get just over half of them back.”
The plans to close and sell off Solihull Police Station have faced fierce opposition from residents, Solihull Council, Solihull MP, Julian Knight, and Jay Singh-Sohal, the Conservative PCC candidate.
