Village calls for more visible policing as police station nears closure

The police station in Kineton Road is still operating as the office for the area’s safer neighbourhood team, but, following a decision by Warwickshire Police to sell the premises, the team will soon vacate the building and it will be turned into a house.

David Johnston, chairman of the parish council, which opposed a decision by Stratford District Council to grant permission for the station’s change of use, said: “We are very much advocating that the safer neighbourhood team should be based somewhere in its operation area, whether that be in Wellesbourne, Kineton and Lighthorne Heath. But it seems like likely that it will be elsewhere.

“Until a few years ago, the parish council and the police shared a building in Wellesbourne. That has led to a close working relationship and we are keen for that to continue.

“The danger is if a team is not based somewhere locally, it won’t be so easy to maintain that relationship.”

Although Cllr Johnston conceded that Wellesbourne’s crime rates are relatively low, he said: “There are some very specific issues locally, for example thefts from farms, which we think are being committed by people who come from outside the area.

“Much of the role of the safer neighbourhood team is to provide assurance. We think a visible presence is very important.”

A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police, which is aiming to save £22 million over the next four years, said the force had agreed with its police authority to a new way of delivering policing services, which included a review of the buildings it owns.

Wellesbourne police station was considered no longer suitable as a part-time police base and the force applied for planning permission to return the use of the building back to a residential dwelling.

This will mean the safer neighbourhoods team will be based at Stratford police station and patrol teams will respond to incidents according to the risk of harm.

Sgt Rich Thomas, who leads the Wellesbourne team said: “Although we will not have a police base within Wellesbourne in the future, the team will continue to patrol and provide the same level of protection. We want to reassure members of the public that we can still be contacted in the same way either by telephone or email.”

The non-emergency phone number is 01789 444600 or email [email protected]

In an emergency, people should dial 999.