Plan on course

I write with some concern about an article in the September 7 Stevenage edition of The Comet entitled 'Work Starts on New Police Station'.

The Constabulary was not approached for any clarity on the content of the story and therefore there are some important inaccuracies that I feel should be addressed so that your readers have a true picture of what is happening with the development of their town's police station.

Firstly, the plan is not behind schedule and the new building is still on target to be operational in 2008, or before, as the original plan states. The issue of the funds paid by the Police Authority to Stevenage Borough Council in regards to the reclaimed car park have been settled for a number of months and raking up resolved issues is neither helpful nor relevant.

Secondly, your article speaks of friction between Stevenage Borough Council's planners and the Constabulary and Authority. This is most certainly not the case. The necessity for additional parking provision at this stage has been reviewed in the light of other developments and the Constabulary wished to explore whether a second storey could be added later if required. A discussion then ensued about how best to deal with this change and it was amicably decided that an application for a 'variation of condition' would be the most appropriate vehicle for such a request.

As the work progresses I hope the people of Stevenage, and the surrounding towns and villages, will notice, and approve of, the significant changes to the site. There may be a small amount of accompanying disruption but I would like to reassure The Comet and its readership that the process is progressing smoothly and there should be no detrimental effect on the level of service we provide to our community.

Superintendent ADRIAN WALTER, Deputy Eastern Area Commander