Gipsy Hill Police station under threat
Norwood loses out to Brixton… Again
Police stations throughout Lambeth – including Gipsy Hill – are under a new threat of closure and disposal to developers as operational services are likely to be centralised in east Brixton. This means that police vehicle response times to areas like Gipsy Hill would be increased.
The police want to work from modern facilities, which is entirely understandable. But any cars sent from Shakespeare Road to Norwood would inevitably face the prospect of being diverted as they made their way here.
Lambeth Council looks likely to provide the Shakespeare Road site, having moved dustcarts from there to Vale Street in West Norwood – a double blow against Norwood.
This apparently firm proposal is made despite the fact that there are three Safer Neighbourhood Teams in the area that could be usefully based at Gipsy Hill.
Councillor Graham Pycock said: “At present, the Gipsy Hill Safer Neighbourhood Team is based in the police station, but absurdly, the Triangle Team is in a converted shop on the other side of the road, and the Upper Norwood Team is based in South Norwood. They could be brought together and the station saved. In any event, we will be looking for the Safer Neighbourhood Team to be retained and fully supported, and will be asking that a public counter service be preserved.”
The local Labour GLA representative for Lambeth & Southwark has sought to justify the reorganisation generally, but as Gipsy Hill is on the border of the borough it inevitably loses out, despite having severe issues with violent and other crime.
Pictured: Graham Pycock outside Gipsy Hill’s police station, which is under threat from closure
