Woodford Police Station is ‘more likely’ to stay open than Wanstead, says councillor

Wanstead Police Station under threat of closure, Ian Duncan Smith, standing outside Wanstead Police Station with other campaigners.

Lizzie Dearden, Reporter Friday, March 15, 2013
11:58 AM

Woodford Police Station is “more likely” to stay open than Wanstead when sweeping changes hit later this year, a councillor claimed yesterday evening.

Cllr Shoaib Patel, cabinet member for environment, transport and crime, told Redbridge Council he could not “guarantee” either front counter would be saved from the axe at a meeting at Redbridge Town Hall, in High Road, Ilford.

He added: “The borough commander [Det Ch Supt Sue Williams] assures me she is doing her best to find a solution to the public’s issues and concerns.”

Cllr Patel said he has met with the deputy London mayor for policing, Stephen Greenhalgh, and written to London mayor Boris Johnson expressing concern over the plans.

Proposals for Redbridge include closing the front counters at Wanstead and Woodford police stations, reducing hours at Barkingside and cutting the number of fixed ward officers for Safer Neighbourhood Teams.

But the number of officers in the borough would increase by 86 overall and new “public access points” would open for people to report crimes.

Possible locations include Wanstead Library and Hainault Fire Station.

Cllr Patel added: “It’s not perfect but it’s a long way from where we were a few months ago.

“We will continue to fight for the other station, whichever one closes.”

A public consultation on the plans for London finished earlier this month and a final decision is expected in the coming weeks.