Ealing Council has expressed concerns about Metropolitan Police plans to sell-off Norwood Green Police Station.

The council received a letter on Friday, 25 June asking for its views on the force’s asset management plan, which includes proposals to sell-off Norwood Green Police Station in Norwood Road, Southall. The council only has until Monday, 5 July to respond.

Although the council objected to plans to close the station in 2008, it was boarded up in late 2008. Now police want to sell the station altogether.

The Norwood Green and Southall Green Safer Neighbourhood Teams based at the Norwood Green police station were relocated to The Arches Business Centre in Merrick Road, Southall.

A statement from the MPS said: "Norwood Green Police Station is not fit for purpose for modern policing. It will cost a significant amount of money to make any improvements."

"The Arches has been opened and it is accessible to communities in Southall. It is a viable alternative."

"Any finances raised from the sale of Norwood Green Police Station would be available for the improvement of other police buildings on Ealing Borough."

The council never believed the safer neighbourhoods team base at the Arches Business Centre on Merrick Road provided a suitable alternative because of its poor location. The council was also concerned that the closure put extra demand on Southall Police Station.

Cabinet member for Safer Communities, Councillor Ranjit Dheer, said: "We are completely opposed to the plans to sell-off Norwood Green Police Station. Fear of crime in Norwood Green and Southall Green wards is amongst the highest in the borough, so if anything we need to have a more visible policing presence in the area."

"The closure is also having a knock-on affect on Southall Police Station, which suffers long queues at the front desk."

"The force has offered to reinvest the money in the remaining stations in the borough, but that does not help the people of Norwood Green. They have also claimed the safer neighbourhood base in Merrick Road is a suitable alternative, but there is no front desk facility, it’s not open much of the time, it’s off the beaten track and there is no parking."

"I’m also concerned that again the council is being asked for its views on this at the last minute, which gives us little opportunity for community consultation."

"I understand that like the rest of the public sector budgets are tight, but this is a very poor cost-saving exercise and I would ask the Met to urgently reconsider this plan."