PLANS to close Solihull police station have been raised in the House of Commons by borough MP, Julian Knight.
Mr Knight spoke out against the plans saying it was a ‘scandal and a travesty’ for the residents of the borough in a debate he secured.
He said: “The fact that an area with such a dense population is going to lose its only operational police station is nothing more than a scandal and a travesty.”
The controversial proposals to sell off the Homer Road station as part of wider plans to save £5million and protect officer jobs across the West Midlands Police force were given the green light by the former Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), David Jamieson in 2018.
In November 2021 the new PCC, Simon Foster, proposed the Homer Road site will close by autumn 2025 after approving plans from the force’s Chief Constable for what it needs to provide an effective police service in the region.
Both Mr Foster and Mr Jamieson committed to not closing the Solihull station until a location for a new front desk had been found.
In the debate Mr Knight said questions have been raised as to what a public contact office means and said it may be a desk in a library.
Meetings have been held between Mr Foster, West Midlands Police and Solihull Council to discuss the location of the front desk.
Chief Superintendent for Solihull, Ian Parnell said: “Despite the need to make savings to protect officer numbers, we are committed to retaining a police station in Solihull and neighbourhood officers will continue be based in the centre of the town.
“That has always been part of West Midlands Police estate plan and will continue to be so.
“A replacement site for Solihull’s Homer Road police station is not expected to happen until Autumn 2025 and the change will not adversely impact our local community.
“Until a suitable replacement site is found that allows officers to be based in the centre of Solihull with a public contact desk to report crimes or concerns there will be no changes at all and neighbourhood teams will continue to serve our community.
