Wirral Police Command Centre plans submitted to council

Jul 29 2009 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

Wirral Police HQ plans

PLANS for a new £30m Area Command Centre for Merseyside Police have been lodged with Wirral Council.

The building is planned for a cleared area of Birkenhead’s former river streets, running lengthways along Beaufort Road to Ilchester Road, covering much of the former Severn and Buccleuch Streets.

The public have until August 13 to have their say on the application.

The state-of-the-art building will create a focal point for police operations and services currently spread across the peninsula, such as Victim Support and communications.

The application reveals major consideration being given to security, with perimeter protection and boundaries reinforced at statutory counter-terrorism “stand-off distances” which should not be crossed in the event of an emergency.

The police authority has requested a total of 238 car parking spaces.

When Merseyside Police Authority first aired the proposals at the end of 2008, local politicians reacted with outrage fearing the closure of stations across Wirral.