Low turnout for public event over police station’s future

Uncertainty continues to hang over the future of the coastal station since it was included on a list of one-third of Northern Ireland’s police stations that potentially could be closed within three years.

Plans to sell off 35 stations could see the number of stations cut from 82 to 47 as part of the PSNI’s estate strategy. Concern has been raised locally that if the Glenarm and Cushendall stations were to close, it would mean that there would be no police stations along the coast between Larne and Ballycastle.

Local people were urged to come to the meeting on Monday to air their opinions on the review, but only a handful of residents made an appearance. Also in attendance were PSNI officers, District Policing Partnership vice-chair Patricia McNeill and manager Wendy Carson, Sinn Fein MLA Oliver McMullan and Alliance Councillor Gerardine Mulvenna. It should be noted that the meeting took place at the same time as a meeting of Larne Council’s development committee.

Chief Inspector John Magill, area Commander for Larne, thanked everyone who attended and said: “My command team and I are committed to listening to people in the communities we serve and we thank everyone who joined us at the meeting.

“A final decision on the viability of Glenarm police station has not yet been made and the consultation process will continue until Monday, March 12. I encourage everyone with an interest in policing to continue to submit their views by emailing them to [email protected] or by writing to Chief Superintendent Noble, H District Commander, Ballymena Police Station, 26 Galgorm Road, Ballymena BT43 5EX.”

A fact sheet containing information on Glenarm Police Station was distributed at the meeting. This information is also on the PSNI website www.psni.police.uk/index/h-district/larne

Members of the public will be given another chance to discuss the review at a meeting hosted by Larne DPP on Thursday, March 1 at 7pm in Seaview Primary School, Glenarm.