Police station closure talks

CLOSURE consultation . . . Chadderton Police Station

CHADDERTON Police Station could close to the public following a consultation by GMP chiefs, it has been revealed.

The station's public enquiry desk on Broadgate is part of a consultation run by Greater Manchester Police as they seek to learn how the public contact the force and how it can provide the most effective service possible.

Demand at Chadderton is among the lowest in Greater Manchester with an average of two people visiting per day leading it to be selected as one of 10 GMP public counters considered for closure.

Oldham Police Station was also considered but it was decided it would not be part of the review.

The consultation will run until September 26. Despite this, a planning application to change the layout of the Chadderton building has already been submitted to Oldham Council, suggesting it could be used as a support facility for the force.

The application proposes the demolition and re-building of the existing single-storey rear element of the station, extending the area north and providing an additional wing of office accommodation at first-floor level.

As well as introducing 1,020sqm of floor space, the application will include minor changes to the landscaping adjacent to the extension plus additional security enhancements relating to the perimeter and vehicle entrance from Gateway Crescent.

However, GMP stated that no decisions would be finalised until after the consultation which will include a survey, public feedback sessions and meetings with partners and stakeholders across Greater Manchester.

It will be available online and in some public enquiry counters with questions focussing on how often and the method of how people contact the force.

Furthermore, it will ask whether people have used social media or the website to contact GMP and how often they use public enquiry counters.

A GMP spokeswoman said: "No decisions have been made yet in terms of what is proposed to happen and what will definitely happen.

"Oldham and Chadderton were both looked at and considered but Oldham will be staying open and Chadderton is still part of the review.

"We need to look at what is more beneficial for people. Whether it is cost effective and that is why we need to hear the public's thoughts.

"It is a full consultation on how the public are using our service and we have to take account what people need to access the counters for specific reasons."

Assistant Chief Constable Rob Potts views the consultation as an important part of developing GMP services to better aid the people of Greater Manchester in the future.

He said: "This is a really important step in making sure our services match the needs of the people that we serve.

"The views of the people are an important part of developing services for the future and it's absolutely crucial that we work with the people of Greater Manchester to provide contact methods that work best for them.

"It's also important that our resources are appropriately allocated. The survey and feedback sessions we'll be bringing to each of our boroughs will help us to do this."

To take part in the survey visit www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GMPconsultationsurvey.