With Wednesfield Police Station hitting the news as it
is once again facing a review. I thought it was a good time to remind our local neighbourhoods, of the work that took place to keep it open.
Looking back with this article Wednesfield Labour Councillors were successful when the closure was first announced. Back in 2018 – Then we took to the streets with our community, to delay and then to halt its original closure programme.
Todays news is good – as the new Police Commissioner Simon Foster, has asked West Midlands Police Chief Constable to review the forces estate provisions.
Which he is going to do.
This article was originally posted in April 2018….As you can see Wednesfield Labour Councillors have been in this for the long game. We remain hopeful that we can pull off what the Public wants.
Wednesfield Police Station Closure- The Public Say No!
Wednesfield North Labour Party and Wednesfield South Labour Party have come together to fight the announced closure of the Wednesfield Police Station in Alfred Squire Road.
The two local parties have held three (2 hour) petition signing sessions in Wednesfield High Street
The first of these was on Good Friday 30th March. followed by Saturday the 31st March and finally on Friday 6th April.
Both Local Labour Parties have taken the campaign out on the doorsteps as well. With really strong support, and reaction from residents.
Councillor Greg Brackenridge (Labour ) Wednesfield South said “After working closely with our local police neighbourhood team over the years, I have the deepest respect for the work that they do and the value they bring to our communities. The West Midlands Police have received the largest cuts in government grant in the whole of the UK.
After losing 2000 officers in 7 years we are now losing local police stations to balance the books.
This is at a time of rising crime levels which is placing our local communities at greater risk. The people of Wednesfield have spoken clearly. They want to keep our police local and I support this wholeheartedly.
Wednesfield calls on the government to fund the police and public services properly and end the austerity we have all suffered.”
Councillor Mary Bateman (Labour) Wednesfield North added “This issue is a bit of a battle, we are not attacking the police, we know that the government are the real reason that the funds are so hard to come by. But our residents do not want this to happen and the Tory Government, need to know as the Chief Constable needs to know, Wednesfield Police Station needs to remain open.”
There has also been a campaign taking place in social media here In Wednesfield, making people aware of what is taking place and also canvassing opinion.
One social media survey taking place in Wednesfield North informs that 75% of local residents who have taken part want the police station to remain open.100% of all those that have responded also say that police response times will lengthen if it closes.
The petitions canvassed over the three days in Wednesfield High Street, by the Joint Wednesfield Labour Party is nearly 1200 strong now. That means over the six hours of collecting signatures against the Police Closure Wednesfield residents queued up and signed at more than 3 person a minute! Now that shows the strength of feeling that local residents who pay for these services think!
The plan is to present this petition and the evidence we are collecting, from our community to keep the Police Station Open in the next few weeks.
For further information – contact either Councillor Greg Brackenridge or Councillor Mary Bateman …..
Phil Bateman
Phil Bateman is Married to Mary and lives in Wednesfield North. He was a long serving local politician having served previously on the now defunct West Midlands County Council… read more
