Gosport: Public access to police station site to be restored

The South Street complex went on the market five years ago and at one stage looked set to be replaced by a seven-storey block of 88 flats. 

JP Developments said it hoped the scheme would kickstart a period of regeneration in the town centre.

Donna Jones and Scott Chilton outside Southampton Crown Court (Image: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner)

Speaking last year the county's Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones, said: "The person that was buying it is now out of contract, despite an extension and some leniency on behalf of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

"This was something I inherited, it wasn't a sale agreed by me."

Now Mrs Jones has confirmed the two-storey building will be retained under a £2m plan to reopen several front counters across the county.

She said: "The public have told me they want more police stations, more police officers, and more visibility of the police.

"By reopening police stations for public access I’m delivering on my promises to the public and helping to bring communities and the police closer together."

But her announcement has angered campaigners who tried to persuade her not to sell the former Lymington police station to a developer.

The former Lymington police station has been sold to Churchill Retirement Living (Image: Newsquest.)

Donald Mackenzie of the Lymington Society said: "Whilst there is still a police presence in Lymington, many would have preferred the maintenance of a fully functioning police station.

"Instead we face the loss of an acknowledged heritage asset."

Mr Mackenzie said the site's sale to Churchill Retirement Living would further increase the number of retirement flats in Lymington. He repeated his call for affordable homes to be built instead.

Mrs Jones told the Daily Echo: "There is an operational need in the Gosport area.

"We have a neighbourhoods police base in Lymington so we haven’t withdrawn from Lymington. We have moved to a smaller location and instead invested more money into Lyndhurst, the biggest police station in the New Forest."

Her statement on Gosort police station follows the appointment of Hampshire's new Chief Constable, Scott Chilton.

Mrs Jones said: "The Chief Constable and I are committed to strengthening neighbourhood policing and increasing police visibility. Police stations need to be as accessible to as many people as possible so communities feel safer."

Gosport police station closed in 2015, with some officers moving to the town hall.