FORMER Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb has told of her delight at the announcement that police are to finally have a new base in the town – after many years of lobbying and campaigning.

The former Conservative MP, who served one term from 2019 before losing her seat to Labour’s Cat Eccles in May, had campaigned for the return of a police base to Stourbridge since taking over the seat from former Tory Margot James.

The town’s original Victorian police station on the ring road, also known as New Road, closed in 2017 as part of police force cost-cutting measures and it has since been turned into plush residential homes.

However, police are now set to return to New Road – just over the road from their old base.

Around 60 officers will be based in the large Copthall House office block, on the other side of the road.

Copthall House in New Road, Stourbridge.Copthall House in New Road, Stourbridge. (Image: Newsquest)

Officers covering Stourbridge and Lye as well as the Dudley borough’s response team will be based at the ring road facing office block, which has its own car park.

West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster said on Tuesday (August 13) that he was “pleased” to announce the location of the new base – adding: “This investment will ensure a police estate that is fit for the 21st century.”

Former Stourbridge MP Suzanne Webb took to Facebook to express her joy that the location for the base has finally been made public after confirming back in March that she’d been assured neighbourhood and response officers would be returning to Stourbridge town centre on a permanent basis.

On her Facebook page, she said it had been a “labour of love by me, my team and residents to lobby to deliver” a new police base.

She added: “The people of Stourbridge have been adamant since the closure of the police station in 2017 by the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner that they wanted to see a police base back to deter crime and offer reassurance that policing was a priority.

“So I decided to do something about it back in 2019 as your MP.

“I would like to thank the West Midlands Chief Constable and our Borough Commander for pushing forward with the plan and for working with me to make the case that a police base in Stourbridge was needed, and at this location which is the big bonus.

“The response from local people to the location has been overwhelming.”

A variety of different locations had been considered since the original red-brick station closed including the former CAB building in Market Street, the Crystal Leisure Centre, the council offices in Mary Stevens Park and a site near Lowndes Road before Copthall House was eventually determined to be a suitable new base for officers.

Chief Superintendent Anthony Tagg, Dudley LPA Commander, described the new base as “great news for our people and those we serve”.

Residents have been commenting online and on social media saying what an appropriate location Copthall House is for the new police base. One reader commented on our website, saying: “They won't even need to put a sign-up. Just take the 'thall' letters down.”