Police post is to reopen
Hednesford police station will finally reopen its doors to the public next week after being closed for more than a decade.
The inquiry office will be open two days a week and will be manned by seven volunteers who made the move possible as cash was not available for staffing.
Efforts to get part of the building back in action as a base for the community to use have been under way for around a year and police have revealed it will open its doors next Wednesday.
The office will be open on Mondays and Wednesdays between 10am and 4pm.
Inspector Mat Derrick, of Cannock police, led moves to reopen the station for community use and said it was hoped other police bases would open elsewhere in the district in the future.
He said: "It is about giving a more local service in the town, which is something residents want.
"It is initially starting very small and we will hopefully build up opening hours as time goes on.
"People need to remember the people working there are volunteers and be patient with them as they will not have the full breadth of skills and knowledge our full-time staff do.
"The volunteers have made this possible and it has taken a lot of work to get to this stage so people need to ensure they use it to make sure it stays."
It is hoped more volunteers will come forward so hours can be extended.
Hednesford's two community beat officers and four Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) will be based at the station.
Response officers will be encouraged to make use of it in their breaks so officers have access to its facilities around the clock.
The station, in Anglesey Street, closed to the public in 1994 and is now used for processing traffic offences across the county.
