Police Station closure a disgrace says Heywood Councillor

Heywood Councillor Peter Rush outside the closed Heywood Police Station

Heywood Councillor Peter Rush has condemned the closure of Heywood Police Station, after it was closed all day on Monday 22 January. Councillor Rush was visiting on behalf of a constituent and was shocked when he read a typed notice on the door stating: “The Police Station is closed today.  Sorry for any inconvenience caused.  If you have any problems please use the outside telephone.” 

Councillor Rush is furious after leading a campaign for longer opening hours at the new Station on Adelaide Street - the station is currently ‘open’ Monday-Saturday from 9am until 5pm.

Councillor Rush said: “This really is the straw that breaks the camel’s back, there was no explanation at all and to make matters worse the phone didn’t even work!  Heywood Police Station needs to be open longer and I’m afraid I will not tolerate the fact that it was closed.  The station cost a lot of money and has not been open long – Heywood deserves better and closing the station with no notice is an abandonment of duty.  Heywood has recently seen a rise in crime and Heywood Police Station should be at the centre of the fight against it.  I tried at the back of the station to see if there was anybody in, unfortunately their car park resembled a car showroom.  Bright sparkling patrol vehicles filled the yard – these are vehicles that should be patrolling the streets of Heywood.”

"I am concerned that police are losing touch with Heywood through station closures such as this and the restriction in opening times.  The problems of accessing police services in Heywood is getting worse especially as people struggle to get through on the phone on the wall and have to use an 0161 number when trying to access services, it’s high time this was sorted. I am aware that the station was closed because officers were moved to Rochdale, this is a disgrace and I hope that the Chief Constable can give us a better explanation and an assurance that this will never happen again.”

Councillor Rush has written to Chief Constable Michael Todd asking for an explanation and asked the Borough’s member of the Police Authority, Councillor Barbara Todd, to raise it at the next meeting of the Police Authority.

Councillor Rush has also spoken of his concern that the restriction in opening hours is because of ‘financial’ restrictions.  He said: “I will continue my campaign until Heywood gets the Police Service it deserves – that means longer opening hours.  The officers in Heywood do an excellent job but they need support urgently – that means more officers in Heywood and less bureaucracy and paperwork.”