Police to move to council HQ?

3:14pm Wednesday 3rd October 2001

I wish to comment on Mark Foy's lead article in the Borehamwood & Elstree Times of September 27, entitled 'Councils plan huge land sale'.

According to this report, it appears that both Hertfordshire County Council and Hertsmere Borough Council have appointed a company of consultants, with a view of advising these two councils on the best way of selling land and property in Elstree Way.

At this stage in the game, the consultants are paying particular attention to various bodies which are jockeying for better positions, and the opportunity it gives to make money on selling land and property.

However, the most ludicrous suggestion so far, is the idea of the police moving into the council offices.

According to this report the constabulary said that "it would welcome the opportunity of sharing a council property...which would mean that it could sell the station premises".

I wonder what the council staff think of this proposal!

Hertsmere Council has substantial, purpose-built Civic Offices. Hertfordshire Police have a substantial, purpose-built police station, with its own car park and easy access onto Shenley Road.

Both parties should be grateful for what has been built for them, and not looking for a property deal.

Council Tax-payers should be very wary of consultants' reports, and I will give one example. Consultants claimed that Maxwell Park Youth and Community Centre should be closed because 'it is empty' quite untrue.

The centre is really very busy and provides much-needed recreationalfacilities. The consultants have obviously not visited the centre, or talked to some of its users.

To close this centre would deprive the people of Borehamwood of a valuable facility. They are wrong to tell the county council to close it, or to advise Hertsmere Council that land earmarked for a theatre for Borehamwood should be sold to a hotel company.

I am relieved that the borough council intends to carry out a public consultation exercise before it approves any planning applications.

Residents should take this once in a lifetime opportunity of expressing their point of view and say what improvements could be derived out of these proposals.

Councillor Eileen Stanley,

Elstree and Borehamwood Town Council.

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