Relocation of Wrexham’s police headquarters ‘will not impact town centre patrols’

Reassurance that the relocation of the local police headquarters will have no impact on patrols in the town centre and villages has been made by the local Inspectors.

You can view our full webchat with Insp Paul Wycherley and Insp Steve Owens click here to have a read…

As readers of Wrexham.com will be aware, the large police tower on the Bodhyfryd site is due to be demolished next summer, with Wrexham’s police headquarters moving to Llay Industrial Estate.

The existing building, which has become somewhat of an iconic part of the Wrexham landscape was built in the 1970s and is described as having poor facilities, high running costs and no longer suitable for 21st century policing and has been described as a ‘concrete monstrosity’.

Plans for the £21.5m state-of-the-art development were unveiled in 2015, with the new building being developed on land previously occupied by Sharps Electronic Warehouse on Llay Industrial Estate.

Details released about the new building state that it will include energy saving features designed to reduce future running costs. The complex will also feature photovoltaic panels to help generate electricity, rainwater harvesting to save water usage and LED lighting to reduce electricity consumption.

The building is set to open in 2018 and up to 200 officers and staff will be based there at any one time. Once complete the building will provide modern custody facilities with 32 cells to detain people arrested in Wrexham and Flintshire.

A smaller town centre base is currently being constructed in the former Oriel Wrecsam Gallery – adjacent to the Wrexham Library. Work has been ongoing for several months and is due to be finished next summer.

With the demolition of Wrexham’s very own tower block around a year away, there have been concerns that the loss of the main headquarters on the Bodhyfryd site would result in a reduction in police patrols in the town centre.

Last week during a webchat with Wrexham.com this topic was raised, with one person asking: “What actual police services be available in the new Police Station at the library? Will it be open access to the Public 24/7.”

Insp Paul Wycherley said: “All patrol staff for the town centre will be based at the new station, as will the Safer Neighbourhood team, as well as a front desk facility.

“The opening hours will be the same as existing station for the front counter. The current station is not 24 hours, but there is an intercom which connects to the control room.

“The only difference between then and now is that CID, custody, administration and senior officers will be based in Llay.”

You can view our full webchat with Insp Paul Wycherley and Insp Steve Owens click here to have a read…