Lymington police move into new base – with a public front desk
LYMINGTON police will relocate from the town’s station to a new base at the nearby town hall on Monday – two years after the move was first announced.
The old police station in Southampton Road, which dates back to 1952, was branded by Hampshire police and crime commissioner Michael Lane as “outdated and no longer fit for purpose”.
He said the new base in Avenue Road provided a modern and fit-for-purpose accommodation for officers and staff to continue policing the Lymington area.
It will have a public front desk, but the current Covid-19 pandemic means it will not open until restrictions allow.
New Forest West Insp. Mike Minnock said: “This move provides our officers with an up-to-date environment allowing us to cope with the challenges of modern-day policing.
“Our officers will continue to deliver high-visibility patrols in Lymington and surrounding areas, while members of the public will be able to report any crime or anti-social behaviour to us as our front desk will be staffed full-time, Monday to Friday, when it opens.
“It will also allow for us to further embed our already positive relationship with our stakeholders such as the New Forest District Council as we look to continue to protect the community from high-harm offences.”
The new base also boasts an interview room, workspace and welfare facilities for officers and staff, meeting rooms and parking.
Mr Lane said: “Providing effective and efficient bases for the officers and staff that serve our communities has always been one of my priorities for the role of commissioner, and our service must respond to changing demands.
“This move sees the police even closer to the centre of Lymington, where they will continue to keep residents safer.”
New Milton 'treated unfairly'
THE retention of a public enquiries desk at the new Lymington police base prompted complaints the town was being treated better than New Milton.
Speaking during Monday’s virtual New Milton Town Council meeting, residents’ association chairman Alan Watson argued this was just one of a number of examples of Lymington being better served and funded.
“Low and behold the police were very pleased to announce that in their new Lymington home they will have a front desk,” Mr Watson said.
“Yet New Milton, which is a larger town with 27,000 residents, has not had a public desk for years.”
There has been no public police desk in New Milton since officers moved into the town hall in Ashley Road following the closure in 2013 of the old station in Old Milton Road.
In September, the A&T asked Hampshire police if a public desk may now be made available at New Milton as the provision is continuing in Lymington.
A force spokesperson replied: “We are unaware of any plans at this stage.”
Responding to Mr Watson’s complaints, New Milton mayor Cllr Alvin Reid said he would write to the police about the matter.
