As part of the proposals to redevelop the footprint of the Lowfield School site with a Care Home there has been an inclusion on council designs for a police station. However, there has not been any detailed plans as to how the activities from the current Acomb Police Station would relocate. Cllr Andrew Waller has written to the Police and Crime Commissioner  (PCC) Julia Mulligan to get a definitive view from the police as to what is actually going on and will be meeting her on April 12th to discuss this and other local issues.

 

In the meantime the official response from the police via the PCC is that they were invited to be part of the new proposed Lowfield Development in 2016, and whilst there were initial soundings, in a ‘statement of intent’ letter, it has not gone any further. Cllr Waller was assured that any change would need to involve councillors and the local community in full consultation before any such change could be brought  forward. The police service also say that they would only progress this proposal if it provided them with a fit for purpose operational facility and also met the needs of the community.

The current police station is on a main road and has received a number of upgrades in recent years most recently in 2014 and therefore the need to relocate has not been explained, nor how the move from a location which fits the transport and parking needs for the local police team would be better served in the middle of the Lowfields Estate. Regrettably the council  has not tackled the parking problems in Lowfields Drive and Dijon Avenue highlighted by Westfield Councillors following up complaints from residents. The issue of how a new  building would be paid for has not produced any figures or business plan.

There is however, a general need to have a public desk available for use which would be most appropriate at Acomb Explore Library which already hosts the Police Volunteer sessions on Fridays. This was proposed as part of the council’s consultation on Library Services by Cllr Waller.

The Lowfield site has been controversial due to the loss of the playing fields and the lack of recognition that the open space in the development needs to take account of the shortage of space in the surrounding community – ironically this policy is now contained within the policies of the Local Plan which is being consulted on until 4th April. The shortage of open space could start to be addressed by clarification of this aspect to start with.