Willenhall police base set to be shut to the public

[dutchman]

The decision to shut a Coventry police station to the public has been blasted as “sneaky” by a senior councillor.



In the next few months the front counter of Chace Avenue Police Station in Willenhall will close – despite police initially claiming that it was one of the busiest in the city.

The original plan was to keep the Willenhall police base open to the public and shut Little Park Street station in the city centre.

But after a public outcry it was decided that the city centre base front counter would remain open.

No mention was made of the future of Willenhall police station though, until police, responding to a Telegraph query, said it would shut.

Binley and Willenhall councillor John Mutton said: “I’m appalled that as a ward councillor I wasn’t notified.

“In my view the press release put out by West Midlands Police made it appear that both Little Park Street and Chace Avenue front counters would remain open.

“I’m going to get in touch with police and crime commissioner David Jamieson and ask him what’s going on.

“If that was their intention why weren’t we told? This is sneaky.”

Fellow ward councillor Dave Chater added: “I’m genuinely surprised because we had been told that Chace Avenue would remain open to the public.

“I will be making representations on this matter.”

West Midlands Police has also said that despite the public outcry to keep it open Little Park Street station will not be accessible 24 hours a day.

From the summer the busy police base will instead be open from 8am-10pm.

The change in plans does not mean Willenhall will be closed to the public permanently, but does mean it will be closed while the Little Park Street base remains open.

[rebbonk]

Really, are we that surprised?