Stay of execution for Hillsborough PoliceStation

The news was welcomed by Policing Board Member, Jonathan Craig after the Board signed off on the 2011 Estates Strategy and recommendations on the disposal of 21 police stations across Northern Ireland.

Policing Board Chair Brian Rea said the PSNI had acknowledged community concerns about the proposed closure of the station and agreed to further consultation.

Mr Craig, the Chairman of the Working Group set up to look at these issues said: “Over the last few months, there has been a concerted effort by elected politicians, Lisburn District Policing Partnership but most importantly, the whole community who have fought to have Hillsborough Police Station continue to service the wider community. I welcome the announcement that the PSNI have agreed to reprieve the Station up until the end of the comprehensive spending review in 2015.

“As a result the Policing Board will be setting up a task force between the new Policing Safety Community Partnership and the District Commander to engage directly with the local residents to address community confidence on the potential future use of the Police Station.”

Mr Craig continued: “Despite the challenging climate that the PSNI finds itself in having to find massive savings of £135m, I welcome the pragmatic approach by the PSNI. While this is welcome news, the campaign is not over and we will continue, with the support of the local community to lobby for the long-term future of our local Police Station.”

Councillor James Baird also welcomed the news. He thanked the Chairman of the Lisburn DPP and their staff for “organising the petition to keep the station open and by facilitating the Public meetings where not only the elected representatives but more importantly the local residents had the opportunity to voice their concerns.

“To the residents of Hillsorough and the hinterlands around it, this is only a ‘stay of execution’, the Estates will be reviewed again in 2015 and in order to keep Hillsborough Police Station open we must use it or lose it.”

Alderman Allan Ewart also welcomed the news. He said: “The local community is to be commended for the campaign it mounted to put forward the case for the station to remain open.

“I think following the expenditure of £400,000 in recent years and its location in the Royal Village it was a sensible decision. Hillsborough police cover a large rural community out as far as Dromara, and people living in the countryside need assurances that if they need the police they are near at hand to help.”

MLA Brenda Hale said it was ‘a piece of good news’.

“But I would also sound a note of caution” she added. “The battle may have been won, but the war goes on for the long-term future of Hillsborough Police Station. There are clearly those high up in the Police Service who are determined to push through the closure of Hillsborough Police Station, one way or another.

“We must continue to argue for its retention, pointing out, what the detrimental effect would be on local community confidence in Policing, if this station were to close.”

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