Avon and Somerset Police have announced plans to close Bath’s Manvers Street police station in 2017, with a new enquiry office to be set up with the Council.
The new location for enquiries to police in Bath will be based at Bath and North East Somerset Council’s One Stop Shop, opposite the police station on Manvers Street.
It is expected the closure and transferral will take place no later than 2018.
The plans have been announced after the force looked into their current estates, following the planned opening of three new police centres across the force area.
Avon and Somerset Constabulary are reducing their portfolio of buildings by at least 36% by 2019, to support the further savings they anticipate they will need to achieve over the coming years.
Reducing their buildings and achieving savings in this way allows them to keep more police officers and staff on or close to the frontline.
Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “As we get ready to move into these three state of the art new police centres I want to be clear with local people about our future estate plans.
“I do not want residents to feel that the police are withdrawing from their area or street. Far from it. Our plans are about reducing the amount of oversized and under-utilised buildings we own and providing the best possible access for our communities.
“In the traditional sense police stations as you know them now, will change. Soon you are much more likely to see your local police team located with other ‘blue light’ services such as fire and ambulance or with your local council. This means that the police will be where you need them most, in the heart of your community.
“This is an exciting time for local policing and reinforces our commitment to serving our communities while being more efficient and cost effective with our buildings.”
The existing estate ‘footprint’ includes old outdated buildings that are expensive to run and maintain and not flexible enough to support the wider changes the police are facing as they implement their new operating model.
Others will be under-occupied when the three new police and custody centres open. In some areas, police stations are in the wrong places and difficult for the public to access.
Where medium-sized police buildings are no longer needed, they will be sold. Smaller, less expensive and more sustainable bases will be sought which will offer greater flexibility and enable police to work more closely with their partners if possible.
Director of Finance Julian Kern said: “The opening of the new police centres has presented us with a valuable opportunity to look at our police estate. We have identified where we are and where we should be to best serve our communities and support our operational officers.
“In addition, many of our buildings are in need of significant investment and are too large for what we need. We are keen to work with our local partners and seek smaller and more flexible locations.
“Some of the details of exactly where will be moving to are not yet confirmed and commercial discussions are underway in some cases. We will communicate with the local communities affected when we have the details.”
The Manvers Street police station was opened in 1966 and has been home to Bath’s police since.
