COST-cutting plans to close Stourbridge and Kingswinford Police Stations are set to go ahead in the summer of 2017.

In a report sent to the News by West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, it proposes Stourbridge station for a May closure, with Kingswinford’s base to shut by July.

The force is closing 28 stations across the region over the next two years in a bid to save £8.5 million, with the savings in station costs helping its bid to reduce an overall budget by £130 million by 2020.

Mr Jamieson told the News: “Over the last five years we have faced £130 million in funding cuts, the biggest in the country.

“West Midlands Police is still facing further cuts from the government over the coming years, so difficult choices remain.

“We are having to deal with more complex crimes and bigger threats than ever before. The government has also placed further burdens on the police as an employer meaning that we have even less money available to spend on keeping the West Midlands safe.”

Once the two stations are closed, officers will be moved to Brierley Hill Police Station, with the report stating the move will “not have a detrimental impact on the service currently provided”.

Stourbridge Town Conservative Councillor Nic Barlow said he is resigned to the closure, but would like Dudley Council to work with police to make sure officers still have a base in the town.

Cllr Barlow said: “I think it would be wonderful if we could keep the police station, but Mr Jamieson is quite determined to push ahead with the closures.

“Whether a change in the commissioner in May – when the next election takes place – will bring about different plans we would just have to wait and see.

“I understand we have to be realistic and face the facts that the closure is inevitable, but I still continue with my feelings that it’s disappointing and very short sighted.”

Suggestions have been made by some members of Dudley Council, including deputy leader Judy Foster, for the local authority to base police officers in publicly owned buildings.

Cllr Barlow added: “I hope that we as a local authority can work together with the police so they still have a presence in the town.

“There are a number of buildings, such as the library or the fire station, which can host officers and be places where people can go to make contact with them. It will also make sure they are seen outside of Brierley Hill.

“I would definitely support the council if they looked at doing that.”

The report states the 28 closures will provide an annual saving of £1.3m in revenue costs, an estimated £7.3m in capital receipts, and remove exposure of backlog maintenance remedial works of up to £3.1m.