Following an announcement by Sadiq Khan that he intervened to save Uxbridge Police Station from closure, Caroline Pidgeon has called on Labour’s Mayor of London Sadiq Khan to guarantee the future of Wimbledon Police Station.
In City Hall last week, London Assembly Members discussed an urgent motion focused on the decision to save Uxbridge Police Station, raising questions over whether the correct procedures had been followed and what impact the decision would have on other police stations across London that face possible closure.
Wimbledon Police Station was earmarked for closure by Sadiq Khan in 2017 before a successful judicial review brought forward by Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Kohler brought a stop to the plans. However, the long-term future of the police station beyond 2023 is still in doubt.
The Met’s Police Estates Strategy, which is due to set out the future of police buildings across London has been delayed several times and still has no clear release date, something which Caroline also highlighted in her contribution to the debate.
Caroline said:
“Whilst the news that Uxbridge Station is to be saved is the right decision and will of course be welcomed by residents, many other Londoners, including those in Merton, will be wondering about the future of their local police stations.
“Both Sadiq Khan and Boris Johnson have long records of closing down police stations in their tenures as London Mayor and we are still waiting for the publication of the long-anticipated estates strategy to be published.
“I have asked 41 written questions, and more in the chamber, on these delays. How many more delays are we going to have?
“With this development happening in the middle of a by-election it needs to be asked why stations such as Wimbledon were not afforded the same advocacy by Labour’s Mayor when they were threatened with closure.
“Despite a successful judicial review by Liberal Democrat Councillor Paul Kohler in 2018, the long-term future of Wimbledon Police Station is still unclear beyond 2023.
“It is not right that one police station receives special treatment. The Mayor hasn’t adequately explained the basis for saving Uxbridge Police Station but not Wimbledon.
“This is about process, transparency and openness regarding the police estate. So far this feels like cheap politics from Labour that needs an explanation.
“I will continue to use my voice on the London Assembly to push Sadiq Khan to guarantee the future of Wimbledon Police Station.”