SHOCK plans to close some of the Bolton area's older police stations were slammed today. The head of Bolton police, Chief Supt Mel Pelham, said the streamlining proposals across the borough would benefit the public. But Canon Alan Wolstencroft, Vicar of Bolton, said he was "alarmed" at the moves.

He said: "I think it is absolutely inconceivable that a town the size of ours will not have a central police station with readily available forces.

"I can see the need for modernising but putting the station out in Middlebrook leaves open the question, what about crime in the town centre? What about the traders and the people who live here? I should imagine they will be up in arms.

"What response time is there going to be? I know what it is like trying to drive into Bolton on a Saturday. It is not an easy thing. It is bad, particularly at the end of the year when crime is at its worst and traffic its heaviest.

"I was alarmed when I read yesterday's report and think it should be opposed."

Proposals to shut Westhoughton police station were branded "ridiculous" by Westhoughton Liberal Democrat councillor David Wilkinson.

As reported in last night's BEN, seven police stations in the Bolton borough will close if plans for the radical shake-up are approved.

Mr Pelham said: "For my part I would like to assure the public that the proposals I have put forward are designed to ensure that the police service in the area is not only maintained but actually improved.

"The new buildings will be designed to ensure that people will still have contact with their local officers and the quality of building is intended to be of a standard to house new information technology and support so vital to modern day policing needs."

Consultation documents have shown that the proposed new Bolton divisional headquarters will be built on land off Manchester Road between the town centre and Burnden Park.

If approved, re-organisation in Bolton would happen during the next five years. Much of the work would be funded through the government's Private Finance Initiative.

But the plans to replace the current Westhoughton station with a new smaller police post will send out the wrong signals to the public, according to Cllr Wilkinson.

He said: "Whatever the officials might say, there is no doubt that shutting down our police station will be perceived by many people as the police walking away from Westhoughton.

"Our town is growing rapidly - there's nearly a new house built everyday. It's ridiculous to cut things down.

"I'm sure our existing station could be renovated to maintain that level of reassurance which comes with a proper police station. He added: "I'm sure the public of Westhoughton will have a lot to say about this. I shall be contacting the chief constable myself."

Mayor of Westhoughton, Kathy Dawson, said: "As a town council, we have already decided to oppose it."

But she added police authority bosses already seemed to have made up their minds.

And Horwich town councillor Barbara Ronson said: "What we have so far is the bare bones of a proposal.

"We will listen to what the public have to say and to what the police have to say and then we can make a decision."

Horwich Heritage chairman Stuart Whittle said: "I think we saw this coming.

"But we take no pleasure in saying this was predicted.

"We are not just trying to defend a building.

"It's a community matter and it is up to them to decide whether they feel the proposals would bring effective policing."

He said if the police authority opened an inquiry desk in the town centre of Horwich, he would like to see more desks opened in housing estates as well.

And Mr Whittle wondered whether people would be happy with the response times of police from the new headquarters at the Middlebrook development.

Bolton councillor Frank White, a member of the Greater Manchester Police Authority, assured the public that no decisions will be made until after the consultation period is ended.

He said public meetings to discuss the closure plans will continue until the end of June.

Comments can be sent to: The Clerk to the Greater Manchester Police Authority, Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, M27 4AE.

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