A PLAN to close Brierley Hill police station and move officers to a new superstation at Castlegate in Dudley has been slammed as a "mistake" and "illogical."
The station on Bank Street, which is home to response teams who go out to 999 calls and is open to the public, will close by winter 2025.
The building will be sold off as part of West Midlands Police's axing of at least 30 stations.
A new Dudley HQ station will open on Castlegate Business Park by summer 2025.
It will be open to the public and will be home to 999 response officers as well as corporate policing teams and Neighbourhood Policing Teams.
Contracts have been exchanged on the building, which will be refurbished, but politicians have hit out at the move.
Mike Wood MP (Image: Handout)
Mike Wood Dudley South MP said: "It is a massive mistake for the Labour Police & Crime Commissioner to move our main police station from the centre of the borough in Brierley Hill to the far corner at Castle Gate.
“I will be working with our local councillors and local community to make sure that we keep the strong and effective police presence locally that people need and deserve.”
Councillor Adam Davies (Image: Dudley Council)
Cllr Adam Davies, Conservative councillor for Brierley Hill, said: "This illogical plan will move our main police station right to the edge of the borough.
"If the Labour PCC won't listen to local people and is insistent on this new superstation at Castlegate, then we will continue campaigning for our own ward's police teams to be based at a new location in Brierley Hill rather than at Castlegate which is clearly too far away from our community."
Halesowen police station will be sold and neighbourhood policing teams will "relocate locally."
Corporate policing teams based there will be moved to other WMP buildings. It is set for disposal by next summer.
Neighbourhood policing teams based at St James' Road in Dudley will also move to the new Dudley HQ and the lease on the building will end by winter 2025.
In Oldbury the station will be up for sale by spring 2025 and corporate police teams based there will relocate.
Neighbourhood policing teams have already moved to Sandwell Council in Oldbury.
West Midlands Police said there will still be 10 sites across the region where members of the public can speak to a police officer.
The force said it has to save £28m in 2023/24 and £21m in the next financial year.
A range of new or refurbished buildings will be brought into use and other sites, previously earmarked for closure, will remain open.
Tipton's station will remain open as will Quinton and Nechells stations in Birmingham for response teams.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said: "This investment will ensure a police estate that is fit for the 21st century."
"Police stations are important, because they provide a reassuring and visible presence for communities.
"This plan will ensure the region retains as many as possible, whilst prioritising maintaining police officer numbers and managing a budget, that remains under severe pressure."
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