The former police station and court building at Southam
The former police station and court building on Southam High Street is being put up for sale to raise funds for the policing budget by the county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe.
Constructed in the 1960s, the building has been underused for a number of years since the closure of the court and the later re-location of the police Safer Neighbourhood Team to the town’s library, where front counter services are provided alongside County Council services through the Warwickshire Direct facility. The sale will not affect this arrangement and there will be no reduction in policing services for the town and surrounding area.
The building has been unoccupied with decommissioning works taking place since May, when the remaining staff from forensic services relocated to modern new facilities elsewhere. With the building no longer being suitable for policing needs and costly to maintain and secure, the decision has been made to market the property for sale.
Agents Fisher German have a guide price of £500,000 for the 8,589 sq ft building and associated land, which would be suitable for redevelopment by purchasers.
Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: “I want to ensure that our officers and staff are housed in buildings which are fit-for-purpose and meet modern policing requirements and the needs of the public. Sadly, buildings first created in a very different era in the 1960s often can’t meet these needs and this is the case at Southam. The building is too large for current needs and difficult to adapt, while the court facilities have not been used for a considerable amount of time.
“It has also not functioned as public-facing police station for a number of years, with the Safer Neighbourhood Team relocating next door to the Library and One-Stop-Shop, which has ensured that the same level of policing is maintained for the town, with much improved facilities for the public when they access police services.
“Since the remaining policing functions moved out in May, the building has been empty, costing mone
y to maintain and secure. This is money which the public rightly expects should be spent on frontline policing, so the time is now right to put up the ‘for sale’ signs.
“While I understand there will be some sadness within the town at this development, I am firmly of the view that it is people who protect the public, not buildings. The funds this sale will raise, together with savings in maintenance and security, can be better used to improve frontline policing and, together with my commitment to boost police officer numbers, that is something I am determined to deliver.”
Further information about the sale of the former police premises can be obtained from agents Fisher German’s Worcester offices or www.fishergerman.co.uk.
