Village police station in Wrexham put on market for £230,000 after closure to save money

A village police station in Wrexham has been put on the market for almost £230,000 after it was closed to save money.

Gresford station was costing North Wales Police £12,000 a year to run before it was shut in July.

It was also being used less frequently by officers following the opening of a new headquarters just over two miles away in Llay.

Estate agents Olive Grove said it could be converted into a three-bedroom house after it was placed on the open market.

Representatives said: “Olivegrove are pleased to offer for sale the former Gresford Police Station.

“A three bedroom detached property set on a spacious plot, in the popular village of Gresford.

“This unique property offers you a wide variety of potential uses subject to planning permission.

“The easiest of which would be to convert it back to a three bedroom, two reception room, family home, having the added bonus of an office/studio with its own private access and two outbuildings at the rear of the property.”

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, who lives in nearby Gwersyllt, announced in June it had therefore been decided to sell the property to generate funds to be reinvested into the force’s estate.

In a letter to community representatives, he said it was becoming more common for officers to work remotely.

He said: “The world of policing has changed dramatically over the last few years.

“We are now providing officers with internet-enabled devices, which mean they are able to work in public areas, such as cafes and libraries, where they are much more visible and accessible to the communities they serve than they would be if they were based in traditional police stations or office buildings.

“This increase in the use of technology has the added benefit of ensuring that officers continue to meet the expectations of the public by keeping them safe from harm as a result of the ever-increasing cyber threats.

“These two benefits alone provide huge benefits in improving community engagement both within our densely populated urban areas, as well as our harder to reach rural communities.”

Speaking at the time, Gresford councillor Andrew Atkinson said the decision did not come as a surprise to him.

However, he asked for some of the proceeds of the sale to go towards delivering speed reduction measures in the village.

*Pictures: Olive Grove

By Liam Randall – BBC Local Democracy Reporter