How many times have Alison Hernandez and Simon Jupp announced their personal involvement in securing a “new” police station for Exmouth?

Perhaps they could enlighten us on why the much hyped plans for one have been withdrawn (see below)?

Could it be that the plans have turned out to be unaffordable?

It’s now pretty clear that Exmouth will not have a new police station before the election.

As a perceptive correspondent to the Exmouth Journal wrote a couple of weeks ago:

“The last two years seem to prove her [Alison Hernandez] vision has been a fantasy at considerable cost to Council Tax payers.”

[In February, Simon Jupp quoted himself as saying: “After the success of securing a new police station for Exmouth which will be open to the public, I want to make sure the east of the district also has access to a police station front desk. I would warmly welcome a front desk opening in either Sidmouth, Ottery St. Mary or Honiton. These rural communities have very different characteristics than Exmouth or Exeter. Extra front desks, focusing on the needs of rural communities and market towns, would give people increased awareness and confidence in their local police force, especially during the tourist season. I know our Police & Crime Commissioner listens to communities and I hope she will consider re-opening another front desk in East Devon.”]

Promises, promises. – Owl

Plans to demolish Exmouth Police Station have been withdrawn

Previously submitted plans to demolish Exmouth Police Station have been withdrawn by developers this week, (August 24).

Adam Manning www.exmouthjournal.co.uk

No reason has been stated on the withdrawal form. The £5 million pound project included knocking down the ‘ageing station complex’ in Exmouth’s North Street includes a disused magistrates court and a mothballed civil defence shelter.

The site is currently occupied by officers but currently members of the public cannot enter without an appointment and Crime Commisioner Alison Hernandez says that “maintenance costs over the next 25 years have been estimated at more than £3m.”

The plans would see the 0.4 hectares of the site sold for redevelopment and a two-storey building built on 0.2 hectares of the site. 

The station will be the operational base for about 60 officers and staff including response officers, neighbourhood officers, Police Community Support Officers, and Special Constables and will include a new public enquiry front desk.

The Commissioner’s estates team is preparing to seek expressions of interest from contractors who may be interested in submitting a full tender for the project.

Commissioner Hernandez, at the time the new station was announced said: “This project makes sense from every angle. Exmouth is Devon’s largest town and sees a huge increase in its population in the summer months. The teams based there, and the community they serve, deserve a station which is fit for the 21st Century, less harmful to the environment and cheaper to run.

She said improving public access to the force was a ‘non negotiable’ part of the project, adding: “When I carried out a public survey to determine which of the 58 possible locations the public would most like to see, a police enquiry office opened once again in Exmouth came eighth. People love the idea that they can walk into a station and talk to a real human being to report crime, receive advice on crime prevention and seek help for victims, so there is no way I am going to miss the opportunity to give this town back its front desk.”

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Mayhew, Force Lead for Local Policing said: “Our officers and staff are part of the local community, and this investment supports them to achieve this. They need a modern base to ensure that we deliver a local service that is effective and accessible to our communities. We are all looking forward to this development taking shape.”