Public given say on building of police bases and training centre

Last year the Home Office endorsed the decision to give the multi-million pound scheme £216m of credits under the Government’s Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

The two headquarters will be at Elland Road, Leeds, and Havertop Lane, Normanton. The new operational training centre, in Wakefield, will include firearms training ranges.

The Elland Road station, to be built on the former greyhound stadium, will replace outdated facilities at Millgarth police station, in Leeds city centre, and Holbeck police station.

Now West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Police Authority are inviting residents to have their say on the force’s three proposed new major buildings, at a series of events for communities.

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police said: “Those who attend the consultations will also have the opportunity to ask questions and offer suggestions on the proposals.

“These comments will be shared with the successful bidder, to consider in their final proposals when they are submitted for planning approval later this year.”

The facilities at Normanton will provide a divisional headquarters for police at Wakefield and the Elland Road site will provide headquarters in the centre of Leeds.

Both will bring a number of teams together under one roof.

Two bidders for the West Yorkshire force’s major building project have submitted tenders for the contract to build all three projects, which will be funded as part of the Government’s Private Finance Initiative.

West Yorkshire Police has submitted its final business case including its preferred bidder to the Home Office and Treasury.

If the business case is approved, an announcement on the preferred bidder will be made in the coming months.

Detailed plans for the proposals are due to be submitted later this year, which will be discussed by councillors at a later date, before the scheme is given the green light.

Households close to the proposed sites will receive letters inviting them to the events, which will be held as follows:

For those living near the New City and Holbeck Divisional Headquarters, at Elland Road, a meeting will be held at the Reaney Suite, Elland Road Stadium, located on 1st floor of the West Stand, on Wednesday, November 23, at 7.30pm.

A meeting will be held at Kirkhamgate Village Hall, Brandy Carr Road, Kirkhamgate, Wakefield, on Tuesday, November 29, at 7.30pm, in relation to the operational training centre at Carr Gate.

For those interested in the new Wakefield Divisional Headquarters at Normanton, a meeting will be held at Freeston Business and Enterprise College, Favell Avenue, Normanton, Wednesday, December 7, at 7.30pm.

Details of the designs of the three buildings will not be available at this stage.

Previously some concerns have been raised about parking at Elland Road, as the site is close to Leeds United’s ground and concerns have been raised about the impact of both the police station and the crowds attending games on match days on surrounding streets.

However, last year members were told a travel plan had been drawn-up looking at how to stop people parking in the surrounding residential streets.

Other proposals which have been drawn-up include encouraging more public transport use.

For more information about the plans, visit www.westyorkshire.police.uk/pfibuildingprojects

Anyone who cannot attend the consultation events can offer feedback by contacting the PFI Team on 01924 206502 or by emailing [email protected]