Plan for new £7 million Community Civic Centre in Tidworth
It comes as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Swindon and Wiltshire and the Town Council join forces.
Last updated 30th Sep 2020
Plans have been announced which would see a new Community Civic Centre built in Tidworth.
It sees the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, and Tidworth Town Council combine their facilities at a brand new £7 million site.
The PCC has been reviewing and assessing Wiltshire Police's sites and buildings in order to modernise and reduce the overall size of the estate used by the force.
It's also hoped it will help streamline overall running costs.
Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said:
"This is an exciting project to be working on alongside Tidworth Town Council. As outlined within my Estates Strategy, shared public estate not only gives us the opportunity to work closer with our partners but also shares financial investment whilst giving our Force new, modern facilities from which to work.
It's important our staff and officers are satisfied with their place of work and this new location will be a much more appropriate and pleasant base."
The PCC will contribute a third of the cost.
The existing Amesbury CPT and Tidworth touchdown Stations have been recognised as no longer meeting operational needs and so alternative locations were explored.
Upon completion of the new Civic Centre and once a suitable, centrally located touchdown point has been secured within Amesbury, the Amesbury and Tidworth stations will close and eventually be sold.
Mr Macpherson says that any proceeds from those closures will go back into the force.
Mayor and Wiltshire Councillor for Tidworth Mark Connolly said:
"Tidworth Town Council are excited at the prospect of the joint Civic Centre and CPT project. Having Wiltshire Police on board with the project is good for both partners and the community. Working together will mean we can deliver a project we and the town can be proud of.
The Civic Centre will provide much more space and flexible use of its rooms for the community and community groups than the existing building. It will be a meeting place for all and a central hub for the community to come together."
Provisional timelines indicate a 14-15 month build time, subject to planning application approval.
The force have set an expected completion date of the end of 2023.
REASSURANCE FROM POLICE
Wiltshire Police say there will be no changes to the services they provide for Tidworth and Amesbury.
Inspector Liz Coles for Amesbury CPT commented
"We’ll still have a strong presence in the community with a centrally located touchdown point in Amesbury. The current station will only be closed once a suitable alternative site has been secured which we’re hoping will be situated close to, or on, the high street. But this won’t be for at least another 12 months or so"