Political row breaks out over plans for new Hexham police station

In an advert on Facebook, a link was posted to a survey titled 'Hexham Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime Survey' with the tagline: "We're fighting for a new police station in Hexham to make our streets safer. Agree? Click the link."

Former Hexham MP and Conservative parliamentary candidate for Hexham's constituency, Guy Opperman, was featured in the image posted.

The statement was met by concern from councillors, who said they were 'baffled' and that this was 'not a priority' for the town.

Mr Opperman has since announced he intends to restore stations in Hexham and Prudhoe as part of a joint campaign with Prudhoe South councillor, Gordon Stewart.

A Facebook post which appears to claim a new police station could be opened in Hexham (Image: Facebook)

Mayor Derek Kennedy said: “This is not a priority, we need social housing at the old police houses and at the old middle school sites. I have represented Hexham West for 20 years and I’ve never had one resident ask for a new police station, this is electioneering madness.

"Guy Opperman’s Facebook post is for a new police station in Hexham. Where is this new station going to be? How big is it going to be? What happens to the old station if he builds a new one as he has stated?

"The messages from Conservative Guy Opperman have created uproar in Hexham with local residents. 

"As mayor of Hexham, I am leading the campaign with councillors Suzanne Fairless-Aitken and Penny Grennan to retain our current police station in Hexham. We want a fully functioning station with more police officers on our streets. Building a new station is an unnecessary waste of time and money. We want the money spent on police officers." 

Mr Opperman said: "I want the police stations in Hexham and Prudhoe reopened and restored, after they were closed by the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner. 

"Residents deserve a functioning local police station and that is why, if I am elected on July 4, I will be calling on the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner to do the right thing and reopen them.

"I am surprised opposition politicians don’t want to get behind my and councillor Gordon Stewart’s campaign to reopen the Hexham and Prudhoe police stations closed by Labour. I have surveyed local residents and they definitely want the stations opened and more of the 704 new police officers in Tynedale."

Town and county Cllr for Hexham East, Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, responded to the campaign for a new police station. She said: “Frankly I am baffled at the Conservatives making such an announcement, we need more police officers and round-the-clock opening hours, not public money being wasted on unnecessary buildings."

In response to his statement that the campaign's intention is to 'restore' Hexham's station, she said: "I would suggest that Mr Opperman needs to get his messaging sorted as it plainly says ‘a new police station’ on the flier/poster. This is all just an electioneering lollypop and we are having none of it and I think the electorate has too."

Hexham's Gilesgate Cllr Penny Grennan said: “A new police station will not address the crisis in policing numbers and anti-social behaviour. We need more community policing on our streets.” 

Prudhoe was the last of several station closures in Tynedale and saw staff relocate to the town's Spetchells Centre in 2017.

Bellingham's Police Station relocated to the fire station in 2014, while Corbridge Police Station also moved to the village’s middle school in 2015.

The moves were part of plans to help the force save up to £46m by the end of 2017, due to Government cutbacks.

County councillor Gordon Stewart, the Cabinet member responsible for looking after our communities, said: "The police stations and desks are so important to our communities, there was an indisputable lack of consultation and planning when the decision was made to reduce such facilities. I have called upon the previous and current Police and Crime Commissioner to work with Northumberland County Council to reopen them as a matter of urgency. The offer has not been taken up on, which is disappointing."

Hexham Police Station was the only one to survive, however, Northumbria Police announced its opening hours would reduce from 24 hours a day seven days a week to 9am-5pm, five days a week in 2017. These opening hours were then further reduced to 10am-2pm, but the station has remained operational.

Former Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness announced in March the station's opening times would increase, to 'strengthen' neighbourhood policing and improve reporting.

READ MORE: Police station to extend front desk hours for trial period

This is an ongoing trial-based period and residents are now able to seek police assistance in person from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday in Hexham.

READ MORE: Concerns over drop in police station hours

Hexham's parliamentary candidate for Labour, Joe Morris, said: "The Conservatives have had 14 years to deliver measures to reduce crime in our area. Labour has a clear plan - deliver 13,000 new officers and community support officers across the country. As the first-ever Labour MP for Hexham constituency, I will ensure we get our fair share of those officers."