Community bid accepted for former police post

By timesecholife on in All News, Community News

The first stage of purchasing the former police post in Blythe Bridge has been successfully completed. The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner has accepted an initial stage of a collective community bid for the property next to the Blythe Centre, Your Community Your Libra

The first stage of purchasing the former police post in Blythe Bridge has been successfully completed.

The Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner has accepted an initial stage of a collective community bid for the property next to the Blythe Centre, Your Community Your Library.


If the second phase of the purchase is accepted over the coming months, the deal will protect all the community assets that have been built up over many decades in the centre of the village, including the public car park.

The site is one of eight police properties to be put up for sale by the OPCC in 2019 and includes two pairs of semi-detached buildings, car parking and additional land.

Plans for the site have been put together by a partnership including Forsbrook Parish Council, Aspire Housing, Blythe Bridge Care and Fun Club, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Staffordshire County Council.


Councillor Keith Flunder, district councillor for the Forsbrook ward, said: “We are looking forward to working closely with the OPCC to ensure we can deliver a major community project to all the residents, community volunteers, businesses and local authorities over the coming months.”

If the deal is successful it will potentially include apartments for the elderly and a new community facility, while ensuring access to the school playing fields and the car park for local businesses, is maintained.

A complete survey of the site is now underway and further work including development plans and agreements must be in place before any final deal can be agreed.

A spokesman for Aspire Housing said: “Aspire Housing is working closely with local partners to explore redevelopment of the former police post in Blythe Bridge.

“We’re looking at a number of options for the site, but this is a fantastic opportunity to create positive change within the local area, with current proposals looking at a mixed-use development with potential for residential and community enhancements.

“It’s too early to confirm an overall cost for this project, but it would reflect a significant investment into the Blythe Bridge and Forsbrook community.”

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