A DUDLEY MP is calling on police chiefs to drop plans to close the police station in Kingswinford – claiming better funding meant the cuts were no longer needed.

Mike Wood, Dudley South MP, has criticised Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson's proposal to shut Kingswinford station, as well as Netherton station – which was due to close on Sunday (January 31).

“At the outset I said that closing two stations within my constituency was both unfair and now unnecessary,” said Mr Wood.

“West Midlands Police have got a far better settlement than expected from the government, following representations from MPs like myself.

“This year they are £2.5 million worse off - although that is still better than expected - and, under a new funding formula for forces such as West Midlands, they will be £10 million better off next year.

“I am calling on them to look again at whether they close police stations, particularly Netherton, where there are relatively high levels of crime and antisocial behaviour.”

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said tough decisions had to be made to “drive efficiencies and protect services” elsewhere in the organisation – referencing the proposals to cut the number of police community support officers in the West Midlands from 674 to 349, which has now been dropped.

He said: “One thing is clear, funding has not been protected, the government want me to raise the council tax to fill the gap. Theresa May has written to Police and Crime Commissioner’s and admitted that there is a 1.3 per cent cut in funding to local police forces.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mike Wood MP for his contribution to the Westminster Hall debate on ‘Funding for West Midlands Police’ and his call for there to be greater flexibility on council tax increases.”

West Midlands Chief Constable Dave Thompson has stressed there would not be a U-turn on plans to axe 28 stations across the region - including Kingswinford, Stourbridge, Netherton, Dudley and Halesowen – over the next two years in a bid to save £8.5 million.

However, he has not ruled out working with Dudley Council to potentially use publicly-owned buildings as police bases.

Mr Thompson recently told The News that savings still had to be made and, because staffing levels had shrunk by a quarter over the last five years, buildings not used to their full potential would still close.

Stourbridge MP Margot James said, despite the more generous funding formula, she did not feel police should review the decision to close her town's station, although she hoped they would still “have a presence in Stourbridge”.

She said the existing police station in the town was too big and not well constructed for the needs of today, adding: “I support the police in their search for continuous improvement and, if that means rationalising police accommodation, I support that.”

But Mr Wood said he was concerned that, if officers were moved from closed-down stations to be based at Brierley Hill, the area would be “affected greatly”.

“I would hope that, given the changing financial situation, they will review their decision to close the police stations,” he added.