Questions asked about new Gloucester police station
CONCERNS have been raised over the impact of the closure of the Bearlands police headquarters on the city centre.
A new main police station will be built on the former fire station site in Eastern Avenue which the constabulary has bought from Gloucestershire County Council.
Demolition is scheduled to begin next month, but no planning application has been submitted yet and a cost has not been calculated.
The new base will replace the divisional headquarters in Bearlands which are 'past their sell-by date' and will be shut.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl said he hoped the new base would be complete 'within the next two years'.
He said police will retain a presence in the city centre but what that will be is not confirmed.
City council leader Paul James said the departure of another big employer would impact on trade.
He said: "In that sense I wish it was staying but we have to trust their judgment that it's the right thing to do for policing."
He questioned what would happen to the county council-owned Bearlands site as he said it would be 'difficult to bulldoze'.
Labour leader Councillor Kate Haigh said: "I do have some concerns. We will need to look at the balance of policing across the city centre."
But Neil Joyner from The Registry nightclub said he was not concerned.
He said: "Bearlands has had its day."
Mr Surl said the new site was served by a number of bus services and added: "It will provide better value for money and a better operational response for the public too."
He and Chief Constable Suzette Davenport are in talks about which services will transfer there.
There are already plans to build 50 police cells at Waterwells to replace the 15 at Bearlands. Details of the Eastern Avenue building are yet to be revealed.
9 Comments
by RoadWombat
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 10:34AM
“About time they got rid of the Bearlands eyesore. The sooner the better.”
by angel67
Wednesday, March 20 2013, 7:04AM
“All of that quater of the city has been ear marked for development , the prison , bearlands, etc will all be closed down ..the council knew this ages a go as there was no pictures of the said premises on there up to date listings of gloucester, isnt it a bout time they came clean and told us what they are doing with it all??”
by gloslad27
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 9:24PM
“This is whats going to happen in the next few years.
Police Station - Moved to Eastern Avenue
Courts - Moved to Great Western Road Behind Railway Station where the HMCTS has already bought the land for the new courts.
Gloucestershire County Council will be relocated into a new purpose built complex nearby
Crown Court and Shire Hall will turned into a theatre.
There will be offices hotels restaurants bars and apartments built on the remaining land.
Check out http://tinyurl.com/8695h7q”
by Studley1975
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 5:08PM
“They Need To Find A Central Location To Work From, Bearlands Isn't Central, Onlt To Town & Is Too Far Away From The Other Side Of Gloucester, Particularly If Smaller Stations Close To Save Money. Eastern Avenue Is Central & Is On A Main Vein Into Residential Areas & The City Itself, I Much Prefer That Idea!”
by glosres
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 3:15PM
“If the police used the Magistrates Court next door, they would have moved years go. How come the courts stay and the police go?”
by Glawsterman
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 1:22PM
“There is only one outcome of the prison and Bearlands, they will both be knocked down. Along with the empty space from the former Priestly printers, all the empty space in the Barbican and the big carpark by Bearlands that is a vast space which will be sold off to some developer.”
by Ysedra
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 9:09AM
“It's a nice idea, Walker100, but this is prime land for redevelopment. If they could get away with it, the city council *would* sell their own offices to be knocked down and replaced with dockside apartments, just as thomas1996 suggests. Readers can draw their on conclusions as to whether that stems from capitalist ideology or sheer financial desperation. Probably a bit of both.
And TiG, those pop-ups are becoming *extremely* annoying, and somehow getting past my ad-block protection...”
by thomas1996
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 8:33AM
“Walker100, that's too logical! But what a superb idea. Just think police, probation service & EXISTING justice facilities within walking distance. No, let's instead build a flashy divisional headquarters like Waterwells far, far away from the centre of crime which isn't at Eastern Avenue, it isn't in Quedgeley it's in & around the city centre!
OK, Bearlands is a dump but who will want to locate their business there? Meaning a loss of hundreds of people working (and spending money) in the city centre shops & cafe's!
I can think of one perfect tenant though, get Glos City Council out of their expensive dock side location and sell that building for more overpriced 'apartments'.”
by Walker100
Tuesday, March 19 2013, 7:52AM
“Absolutely bizarre decision. The prison land is available. This should be used to build a justice hub that incorporates the Civil Courts, Magistrates Courts, Crown Courts, Probation Service, Police and all NOMS units, including psychiatric services serving the justice sector.
This would save an incredible amount of money having a built to order, up to the minute dedicated justice service building, with cells to be used by both courts and police. The current system is expensive and creates barriers to effective justice.”