Hampshire's police and crime commissioner is 'working on plans for Gosport police station'

During a police and crime panel meeting last week, plans were discussed regarding the now-closed police station. It was announced in April that it would not be sold off, after plans were submitted in 2019 to demolish it and build flats.

The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, suggested a split conversion.

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‘I am working on plans for Gosport Police Station. We will have an extra 600 officers by March 2023 and 650 by March 2024 which is why I have retained it in the police estate,’ she said. ‘However, I have not made any decisions on it yet.’

Hampshire County Councillor Lesley Meenaghan, who was a police sergeant in Gosport for 15 years said: ‘There’s going to be accommodation for emergency services and police and front desk facilities.

‘All you’ve got in Gosport at the moment is the neighbourhood team at Gosport Borough Council. The new police station is envisioned to include the neighbourhood team and a base where officers can operate from. Also, the district commander will have an office to work from.

‘Everyone knows where it is, a lot of complaints I get from residents is that they don’t know how to access the front desk in the town hall because it’s tucked away.

‘There isn’t a focal point for people to speak to the police – you’ve got nearly 90,000 people living in Gosport and you need to have a place of safety.’

Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport said: ‘I would love to see Gosport Police Station refurbished and brought back into use, this giant site has been empty for far too long. It has so much potential for local policing, community and our economy.’

But Councillor Peter Chegwyn, leader of Gosport Borough Council did not welcome the proposal.

‘The former police station building is an empty, decaying eyesore which could cost over £10m to bring back into use,’ he said.

‘Many people feel it would be better to demolish what’s left of a derelict building of no historic or architectural merit and re-develop with much-needed social housing for local people.

‘We already have a police station in the Town Hall and even if the old police station building was brought back into use the Conservatives have no plans to provide any better police service than we already have.’