Work begins on new police base

7:00pm Tuesday 8th August 2006

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BOBBIES in Brierfield will soon have a place to call home after work began on a new police station.

Work costing £30,000 to convert a former shop in Colne Road came about after residents said they wanted to see more officers in the town.

Inspector John Bullas, responsible for policing in Nelson and Brierfield, was due to visit the site today to inspect the building work.

He said: "Residents have said they want us to be highly visible and easily accessible and this new base will go a long way towards helping us achieve that.

"We're very excited about the building and delighted that work is now under way to give Brierfield its own police base."

The new station at 19 Colne Road, next to the town hall, used to be Wise Buys.

Once refurbished, the station will include a public inquiry desk and an office for the town's sergeant, community beat managers and police community support officers.

It will also feature a meeting room which will be used for Police and Community Together meetings and other community events.

Pendle Partnership, an organisation made up of bodies including police, the council, businesses and community groups, has funded the project through European cash.

Brierfield Liberal Democrat councillor Frank Wren said many constituents had gone to him asking for a police base in the town since he was elected in 2004.

He added: "It will be fantastic and will be somewhere for the people to go in to.

"It sends out the message that the law-abiding people of Brierfield have had enough and will not tolerate criminals."