New chief looks to find use for redundant rooms in police station
Monday, 21st November 2011.
Haverhill's new police chief is looking for organisations who might like to use some of the spare space in the police station.
Insp Peter Ferrie said there were large areas of the police station which had not been used for years, and it made sense to find out if any other agencies or voluntary organisations, particularly those who work with the police, were looking for office space.
"We have a lovely police station here and we need to make better use of it," he said. "If we're not using the space, I'd rather have other people we work with in there."
The main area concerned is the former single quarters, in which PCs used to live, but which have not been used for that purpose for more than a decade. They are currently used for storage.
The station also has a complete cell block of six cells which have not been used for years either, since the new unit was built in Bury St Edmunds, which is where all arrested people are taken now.
The block is still in perfect condition, regularly cleaned, and quite ready to accept prisoners - except that requirements have now changed and a greater degree of comfort has to be provided.
So Insp Ferrie aims to store equipment in the cells and clear the single quarters to make it available for organisations to rent as office space.
"There are nine or ten rooms, plus a lounge or meeting room," he said. "Anyone interested can ring me on 01284 774473."
Access could be made available for employees, but not for the public, due to the requirement to keep parts of the police station secure.
It is part of Insp Ferrie's plans to reshape how the station is used, prior to January 10 when he takes over reponsibility for the response team in Haverhill as well as the Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Both teams will be accommodated on one floor of the building and in rooms close together.
"I'll be at the heart of everything that's going on, and that is how it should be," he said. "When I was here as a PC this was a vibrant, busy little station and I want to get back to that."
Insp Peter Ferrie said there were large areas of the police station which had not been used for years, and it made sense to find out if any other agencies or voluntary organisations, particularly those who work with the police, were looking for office space.
"We have a lovely police station here and we need to make better use of it," he said. "If we're not using the space, I'd rather have other people we work with in there."
The main area concerned is the former single quarters, in which PCs used to live, but which have not been used for that purpose for more than a decade. They are currently used for storage.
The station also has a complete cell block of six cells which have not been used for years either, since the new unit was built in Bury St Edmunds, which is where all arrested people are taken now.
The block is still in perfect condition, regularly cleaned, and quite ready to accept prisoners - except that requirements have now changed and a greater degree of comfort has to be provided.
So Insp Ferrie aims to store equipment in the cells and clear the single quarters to make it available for organisations to rent as office space.
"There are nine or ten rooms, plus a lounge or meeting room," he said. "Anyone interested can ring me on 01284 774473."
Access could be made available for employees, but not for the public, due to the requirement to keep parts of the police station secure.
It is part of Insp Ferrie's plans to reshape how the station is used, prior to January 10 when he takes over reponsibility for the response team in Haverhill as well as the Safer Neighbourhood Team.
Both teams will be accommodated on one floor of the building and in rooms close together.
"I'll be at the heart of everything that's going on, and that is how it should be," he said. "When I was here as a PC this was a vibrant, busy little station and I want to get back to that."
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