Proposed signage adding police to Stone’s fire station has sparked concerns from town residents.
Police have already moved into fire stations elsewhere in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, including the city centre base in Hanley. Stone has previously been identified as another potential site from which both emergency services can operate.
The former Stone Police Station in Radford Street was vacated by the force several years ago and put up for sale, with a police post opened at the Stone Town Council offices in Station Road.
The Stone Community Fire Station constructed last decade was one of several facilities built across the county under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI) scheme. It replaced the old station on the site at The Fillybrooks and included space for community groups to meet.
An application has now been submitted to Stafford Borough Council for new signage at Stone Community Fire Station for “Stone Fire and Police”. The proposals have been called in for consideration by the borough council’s planning committee.
County, borough and town councillor Jill Hood, submitted the call-in on behalf of residents, said
“Signage will be a distraction for members of the public, causing a hazard and adding to a busy stretch of the A34 where a number of accidents occur. The word Police, added to the signage, will give the impression to motorists to drive on to the frontage – where there is no parking area – thinking that it is a police station serviced by police officers to deal with public enquiries.”
Speaking at the latest town council meeting she added:
“I have strong views on this – 10 years ago, one of the conditions was that the fire station would be known as Stone Community Fire Station. There are a number of community groups that use it – not least the U3A.
“This planning application is suggesting it will be called the fire and police station. I fear that if the community bit is taken out there will not be any provision for the community – I think it is very important that word ‘community’ is there.”
Another resident of The Fillybrooks said:
“We have frequent road traffic collisions on this northbound stretch of the A34 with cars chancing to pull out from Whitmill Lane or cutting over the Fire Brigade Emergency Access in the central reservation. The proposed signage could be a major distraction for drivers.”
1 comment
Sean Regan
It’s a very good proposal. The building would come under the umbrella for both services that has also been done at the likes of Hanley and Tamworth. The proposal surely saves the tax Payer money.
The road is a reduced speed limit of 40 mph and since the change in road layout whereby no right turn off the A34 into white mill Lane the number of collisions has reduced. The signage would be no more of a distraction than it already is. I don’t believe just adding thw word police would have and detrimental effect .
Save tax payers money and make progress