admin @ Tue, 2005-10-11 11:31
CUMBRIA Constabulary's proposal to build police cells at Houghton is one of the most controversial planning applications dealt with by Carlisle City Council.
Planning officers are recommending that councillors approve the £1.2million scheme for a free-standing custody unit housing 24 cells to replace those lost at the city's Rickergate police station in the January floods.
Nearby residents have objected on the grounds that the cells will bring noise from sirens, extra traffic, light pollution from security floodlights and depress house prices.
Stanwix Rural Parish Council and Stanwix Primary School are among the objectors. One letter was written by a former policewoman who is the wife of a serving police officer.
“When Mill House detention centre for young offenders was operational [in Houghton] a 15-year-old boy broke into my home, took my car keys and stole my car. He wanted a lift home.
“Newly-released offenders will, most likely, be angry and resentful and bearing grudges, and are quite likely to take out their anger on the first property they come to.
“A high proportion of sex offenders are bailed to reappear at a later date so high-risk sex offenders will be brought into our community, into an area where many children walk home from school.
“I moved to Houghton three years ago as I felt it was a village with a low crime rate that was a safe, secure and friendly environment to move to as a single woman.
“I am an upstanding member of the community who is educated to degree level, has worked hard, never been in receipt of benefit and who is massively opposed to criminal activity and has absolutely no criminal record.
“It is obvious that [the custody suite] would be very convenient for the police but I always thought it was their job to protect the general public, not cause problems for them.
“Having lived around this area for 29 years, I am very sorry to say that if this proposal goes ahead it will leave my husband and I no choice but to move.
“As we live next door to the police compound, and have been broken into twice in five years, [the custody suite] probably increases our chances of being broken into by approximately 1,800 per cent.
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