Part of the proposed £907,000 upgrade to a Somerset police station includes the addition of a faith room and breastfeeding facilities. Avon and Somerset Constabulary have submitted plans to revamp the Chard police station, situated on the A358 Millfield near the town center.
The projected cost of the refurbishment, which was put out to tender in January, aims to elevate the building to a higher standard for both the general public and the officers stationed there. A decision on the proposals is expected from Somerset Council by late spring.
Nestled on one of Chard’s primary roads, close to the Millfield industrial estate and the town’s leisure center, the station is set to undergo various enhancements. These include the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps to decrease energy consumption, as well as the addition of new fencing and gates to bolster security.
READ MORE: Bath Christmas Market: Improved Train Service for Festive Shoppers
READ MORE: A30 Roadworks Delayed, Causing Christmas Travel Delays
Furthermore, new windows and roof repairs will mitigate heat loss, while the interior layout will be reconfigured to accommodate a new locker room, accessible toilets, breastfeeding facilities, and a faith room intended for officers of different religious beliefs to pray or meditate.
Commenting on the proposals, Simon Metcalfe, an associate at Alder King Planning representing the police force, stated: “The existing police station serves a valuable community function and is in need of renovation and investment to bring it up to modern policing standards. Avon and Somerset Constabulary is proposing to invest in both the fabric of the building, enhance sustainability and energy efficiency, and provide proportionate security improvements.”
These plans emerge after the force abandoned its scheduled £6.2m upgrade of Yeovil police station, opting instead to refurbish the existing building on Horsey Lane, incurring a cost exceeding £1.3m for taxpayers.
In a joint statement, police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford and chief constable Sarah Crew affirmed their commitment to investing in police stations in south Somerset to better serve rural communities. They highlighted that the Chard police station’s refurbishment would create a productive, collaborative, inclusive, and future-proofed working environment for the officers and staff delivering policing services to the town.
The council is anticipated to make a decision on the plans in the coming months. Whether the plans will necessitate the public approval of its planning committee south, which manages significant applications in the former South Somerset area, remains unclear. If approved, construction is expected to commence later in the year.
