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08
Apr
Disagreement continues over Ripon police drop-in office
The disagreement over whether Ripon should have a city centre police office has continued.
Last month Ripon City Council called for Jo Coles, York and North Yorkshire's Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime, to rethink her decision to abandon proposals for a drop-in police office at Ripon Town Hall.
But Ms Coles revealed in an email to city council leader Andrew Williams she did not plan to change her mind.
The email, which was discussed at last night's full council meeting, indicated she felt the newly refurbished Ripon Fire and Police Station on Stonebridgegate was adequate.
It said:
It is my responsibility to ensure that public money is spent effectively and that wherever possible we prioritise resources into neighbourhood policing.
The new police and fire station in Ripon is the result of £926,000 investment and all policing services are fully provided for at the new joint police and fire station.
Therefore, the space in the town hall is no longer needed and the police are exiting from the temporary arrangement with North Yorkshire Council to utilise space in Ripon Town Hall, 700 yards from the new station.
I hope everyone in Ripon can get behind this brilliant new police and fire station which is such a great asset for the city.
Last month's official opening of Ripon's newly-refurbished police and fire station.
Cllr Williams responded:
We all have a responsibility to ensure that funds are properly spent, but it is a retrograde step to pull out of the town hall plan without consulting with us.
I have no issue with the the newly-refurbished police and fire station at Stonebridgegate and was pleased to see its upgraded facilities at the official opening event last month.
However, also having an office in the city centre would provide the police with a more readily accessible and discreet place to meet with the public.
Some of our residents who have crimes to report have concerns about being seen going into a police station, while elderly and disabled people may consider that Stonebridgegate is too far away and public parking near the station is limited.
Councillor Peter Horton added:
I think that the police are missing out on some good publicity here, because having a drop-in facility in the city centre would show that they are coming to the people, rather than always expecting the people to go to them.
Members voted unanimously to support a proposal by Cllr Williams to write to the deputy mayor to reitarate their call for a rethink on the city centre office.
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