PLANS TO CLOSE CLARE POLICE STATION

The Town Council was concerned to hear about Suffolk Constabulary's plans to close the police station in Clare via rumours circulating in the community.

Inspector Peter Ferrie was invited to a Town Council meeting on 20th November 2014 to seek clarification. He confirmed that a decision was imminent regarding the possible closure of the police station, as part of cost-saving measures, at the end of the lease of the building in January 2015.

Clare is a key local service centre currently with a fire station, police station, a bank, two doctors' surgeries, a Co-op store and a number of local retail businesses. We are a small town (population c. 1900), probably the smallest in Suffolk, and continually struggle to maintain our service centre role for the surrounding villages. The closure of the police station would be a major loss to a town of our size.

The Town Council raised the matter with Tim Passmore, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Suffolk who has agreed to extend the lease on the police station lease for a further 6 months to allow for proper consultation with the community on the future of the policing in Clare and the surrounding areas.

As part of the consultation Mary Evans, our County Councillor is hosting a public meeting in the Town Hall on Tuesday 20th January at 7pm. In attendance will be Tim Passmore and Gareth Wilson, the Deputy Chief Constable.

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY – WE HOPE YOU WILL ATTEND

Story By: Town Clerk

Date : 19-01-2015