WORK is set to begin on a new police station in Minehead after a building was bought for the purpose.

Avon and Somerset Police has completed the purchase of the former Seahorse Centre, in Stephenson Road, from Somerset Council and will be refurbishing the building for the new station.

The premises will include an enquiry office, the Neighbourhood Policing Team, as well as providing touchdown desks for response officers.

Work is expected to start in May, ready for officers and staff to move in to by late autumn 2024.

Temporary Chief Inspector Rebecca Wells-Cole, said: “This is great news that we’re excited to share with the community of Minehead.

“Our existing station in Minehead on Townsend Road is oversized, in need of refurbishment and is no longer suitable to meet the needs of modern policing.

“This new station will be much more efficient to run and allow us to continue to provide a policing service in Minehead for many years to come.

“The new station will house an enquiry office to enable people to come and speak to us directly.

“It will also be the new home of our Neighbourhood Policing Team, who will continue to provide a visible policing presence in Minehead, working proactively to solve problems and support our community.”

Part of the new building will be leased back to Somerset Council, to deliver training to health and social care staff as part of a government’s Levelling Up programme to develop a Somerset Academy for Health and Social Care.

Cllr Ros Wyke, Somerset Council’s lead member for economic development, planning and assets, said: “It is great to see Somerset Council and Avon and Somerset Police working together to breath some new life into the Seahorse Centre in Minehead.

“With the police now owning the building, and the forthcoming Somerset Academy annexe being planned, this move shows continued public sector commitment to Minehead and its surrounds.”

Police officers and staff will continue to work out of the station at Townsend Road until the new station is ready.

The existing site will soon be advertised for sale for a likely future residential scheme.

Development proposals for Townsend Road are still at a very early stage and no planning application has yet been submitted. People can have their say on planning proposals by April 18.

People can submit comments via a form at https://forms.office.com/e/582BeTW6n3.