Police move to Hove Town Hall clears way for class plan (From The Argus)

Police move to Hove Town Hall clears way for class plan

10:50am Friday 8th February 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway & Anna Roberts

Hove Police Station in Holland Road is closer to becoming a school site

Plans to turn a police station into a school are on track according to town hall bosses.

As it looks to tackle a primary school place shortage, Brighton and Hove City Council wants to take over the site in Holland Road, Hove.

Local authority bosses have confirmed that talks are ongoing with Sussex Police over Hove Police Station and a valuation has been carried out.

Confidential negotiations on price, described as “commercially sensitive” by Sussex Police, are now underway.

Meanwhile Sussex Police officers – although not office staff – will move out of the building. They will move into Hove Town Hall on Valentine’s Day.

A police spokesman confirmed the force was paying Brighton and Hove City Council £37,250 per annum for the space.

Councillor Sue Shanks, chairman of the council’s children’s committee, said a firm had been employed to value the site and a draft report sent to the local authority and police.

She said: “The council has confirmed that it is happy with the report and is awaiting confirmation from the police that the final report can be issued.”

Incident reports

Neighbourhood community officers are to move into Hove Town Hall.

This will mean the public can report incidents and get crime prevention advice at the council’s new customer service centre.

Conservative Councillor Andrew Wealls said: “I’m delighted the administration appears to be finally making progress on acquiring this site.

“It may not have been the best negotiating tactic to allow the police to move in to Hove Town Hall before a price and timeline were agreed.

"Parents are still anxiously waiting to hear whether this will now be a satellite of an existing school and if so, which one?”

Buying site

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “All public-facing services including police officers will be relocated on February 14 and it will be used by office-based staff until it is sold.”

The Argus revealed last July that £1.8 million from the current year’s budget has been set aside towards purchasing the site.

The council earmarked it as its preferred place to provide three extra junior classes in the station by September 2014.

It is thought local authority bosses hope it can be the feeder school for children at the satellite Connaught Infant School in Connaught Road, Hove.

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