STOURBRIDGE MP Margot James has said she is not going to fight the closure of the town's police station.

West Midlands Police announced this afternoon that it is considering moving out of 28 buildings across the region over the next two years – including stations at Stourbridge and Kingswinford.

Ms James said even though the proposed closure is “very disappointing”, she does not feel it will have an impact on the town’s crime.

Speaking to the News, Ms James said: “Stourbridge Police Station has been inaccessible to the public for quite some time now so I don’t feel it will have a big impact.

“Their operations have been centralised for a while and officers will still be out on patrols around the town especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

“It is something I will be keeping a close eye on, but I would rather see reductions to the bricks and mortar of the police’s assets rather than to the front-line officers.

“I am not going to fight it as I think it will have a very minimal impact.”

However, Stourbridge Town Councillor Nic Barlow tweeted: “I'm absolutely shocked and appalled at proposal to close Stourbridge Police Station. Short-sighted decision.”

The closures, which will be discussed on Tuesday (October 6) when the force will present the proposals to the Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson at a Strategic Police and Crime board meeting, would save £8.5million and help in its bid to reduce its overall budget by £130 million by 2020.

If the proposals are approved, the force say that “a range of engagement activity will take place to ensure we share the proposals with key groups in our communities before a decision is made”.

Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “As the cuts continue to bite we are faced with some really tough decisions.

“I will wait to hear the full report from West Midlands Police on this in early October but my view is that we must do all we can to support officer numbers.

“If that can be achieved by reducing the police estate further then that should be given serious consideration.”