MERSEYSIDE Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy has not ruled out the possibility of a joint ‘super’ station for fire and police services in St Helens town centre.

As part of a £130m plan, the proposed changes to the police services would see some existing buildings replaced by “community stations”. The the town’s main College Street station would undergo a refurbishment or a brand new station will be built.

The Star reported earlier this year that a new town centre fire station could also be in the pipeline, with a proposed merger of Eccleston and St Helens fire stations being considered.

And the Police and Crime Commissioner, who was at the Hardshaw Centre to discuss her proposals with residents, did not rule out the possibility of a joint-facility between the services.

“It is a big question and we would need to talk to the council about that but at the moment we’ve got two options over the town centre facility,” said Ms Kennedy.

The plans also include disposing of the current Newton-le-Willows police station and replacing it with a ‘Neighbourhood and Patrol Hub’.

“We’re also building a new station in Newton-le-Willows which will replace what is currently a great big ugly building.

“It will have rapid response teams and will be what I would call like a working police station.”

The proposals would retain the Rainford, Billinge,and Eccleston stations as well as the Moss Bank and Millersdale community stations currently in place. Meanwhile, Tickle Avenue station would be relocated to Helena East and Sutton and Thatto Heath stations would be replaced with a co-located community station.

The Commissioner added: “At the moment we are working out of large buildings that are locked and that the public cannot come into and we want the community stations more open to the public.

“You will still dial 999 to report an emergency but if you have an issue such as anti-social behaviour and need a response you will be able to see neighbourhood teams and have meetings at them.

“We will probably be able to move quite quickly with one or two of the stations but the big projects in the town centre and Newton-le-Willows we need to work with the council and it is probably going to take two or three years.

“I wish I could guarantee the same level of policing but we are looking at a 40 per cent loss of people.”