A COUNCILLOR has attacked his own council — for attempting to save a local police station from closure.
Former Green MLA Brian Wilson, who is now an independent councillor for Bangor West, said that a campaign by North Down Borough Council to retain the PSNI’s Holywood station was “irrational and ill-informed”.
Forty per cent of police stations across the Province — 34 stations — are in line for closure as the PSNI attempts to save money.
Mr Wilson accused the council — which has set up a campaign to save the large station from closure and created an online petition — of stoking public fears.
“I believe that the campaign to retain Holywood police station is an irrational and ill-informed attempt to create public fears where none exist. North Down council should play no part in it,” he said.
“I disagree that the closure of Holywood police station would have a devastating impact on the town and that the residents are alarmed that this would lead to a crimewave in the borough.
“I discussed the proposed closure with some Holywood residents and they were not the least concerned — one even pointed out that no-one ever used the station.
“I believe that the future of Holywood station must be an operational matter for the PSNI and North Down council should not get involved.
“The PSNI’s role is to provide an effective and efficient service and if they believe that closing Holywood station will achieve this, they have my full support.”
Mr Wilson said there had been a “knee-jerk reaction” to the proposed closure and that he had no evidence that a similar campaign by the council several years ago to oppose a cut in the opening hours at the police station had been justified.
“As the local MLA I had no evidence of such concerns as not a single constituent contacted me on this matter,” he said.
A spokeswoman for North Down Borough Council said: “It was with the unanimous agreement of council at the end of last year that the decision was taken to oppose the proposed closure of Holywood PSNI station and to undertake a campaign for its retention on behalf of local ratepayers.
“Since then members of council from across North Down and all parties have helped to promote the campaign and collected signatures from the many people in the Holywood area who wish to register their opposition to the plan.
“To date more than 1,000 signatures have been collected and in conversation with residents many have expressed concerns about the closure and the lack of a visible police presence in the town that it would create.”
The spokeswoman added there has been “an appreciation that council has provided a vehicle for registering opposition” and predicted “strong interest” to be shown at public meeting scheduled to be held last night.