Guildford Police Station closure plans revealed
It's part of plans to redevelop the force’s headquarters in Mount Browne
Guildford Police Station will close and officers moved out of the town centre as part of plans to redevelop the force’s headquarters in Mount Browne.
If the move goes ahead residents would be left with only a counter service.
The force published proposals in April to update ageing accommodation blocks, build a new call centre, modernise dog training kennels and accommodation for students.
It also released a statement about its ambitions to transform its Old Portsmouth Road headquarters in Guildford and called on residents to have their say.
It has since been confirmed that the plans include closing Guildford Police Station off Woodbridge Road, leaving just a public-facing counter service in the town centre for “ease of public access” – after senior officers were pressed on the matter.
The police say this will improve response time for officers attending high-risk incidents.
The application to redevelop its Mount Browne HQ follows a public consultation in August last year when community groups, businesses, and residents, within a 2.5 km radius of Mount Browne, were invited to view the plans and ask questions.
The two-part application also included a new access road onto the site which the force said would relieve traffic in the neighbouring residential areas.
The plans, the force said, received “overwhelming support during this process” they did not, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands, include mention of the closure of Guildford Police Station.
A resident told the LDRS: “The big story is that Surrey Police will be closing the Guildford station all together.
“All response for Guildford Town Centre will either come from mobile units or out of Mount Browne and along Portsmouth Road back into town.
“The point is omitted in all the planning docs.”
A spokesperson for Surrey Police said: “As part of our Surrey Estates Strategy we are committed to ensuring that we deliver the best policing service possible, by ensuring our people are in the right locations and in buildings that are fit for purpose.
“We have worked closely with our partners at Guildford Borough Council on the proposed redevelopment of Mount Browne which is currently open for public consultation.
“The proposals would see teams relocating from Guildford Police Station to Mount Browne, improving emergency response times for police units attending high-risk incidents, and a public front counter presence would be maintained in the town centre for ease of public access.”
“There would be no use of “mobile units”, and these proposals are contingent on the redevelopment of Mount Browne.”