From surgery to police station

The project is part of a scheme to meet the town's future policing demands by creating a network of satellite stations.

The Link Surgery, in the West Swindon Health Centre, was founded by Dr Rod Houseman after a long-running campaign, but closed following his death from a heart attack in March last year. The building will now become a permanent base for six officers, if council planners approve.

Police Commander of the Swindon Division, Chief Superintendent Ian Maidment, confirmed that a planning application had been submitted to Swindon Council for the use of the site.

Chief Supt Maidment explained: "The first of the small facilities has recently been secured within the North West District Centre. It is anticipated that this facility will open later this year. It has been sited so as to serve the residents of north Swindon and those who will in future move into the housing developments.

"The planning application relates to the provision of a police point on the western side of Swindon."

The Swindon Division currently has three police stations in the town: the town centre divisional headquarters in Fleming Way, Westlea Police Station on the western side and a small station in Highworth. But with the prediction that Swindon's population is set to top 200,000 in the next decade, police are concerned that their facilities are becoming increasingly unsuitable.

And a review by the force has concluded that a network of smaller stations supported by a single divisional HQ is the way forward.

The application forms part of a Home Office scheme to provide Swindon Police Division with a new range of buildings funded under the private finance initiative.

The proposed police station at the former Link Centre site will serve people living in Grange Park, Freshbrook, Toothill, Westlea, Shaw, Nine Elms and Western.

The application is likely to be reviewed by the council's planning committee on Tuesday, May 28.