IT HAS been closed for six years, but multiple signs in Basingstoke town centre are still directing people to the police station in London Road, despite it being demolished 18 months ago.

Concerns have been raised about the signs which advise that the former police station is just a few minutes’ walk away, when in fact it closed in 2017 before being knocked down in 2021 to make way for retirement homes.

A Basingstoke resident, who does not want to be named, raised the issue with Hampshire County Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Hampshire Constabulary, but said he is frustrated that nothing has been done.

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He said: “I can’t bear the thought of someone being in distress and getting to the police station and being disappointed.”

He added: “Imagine someone, say a lady, feels the need to walk to the police station if she is being harassed in the town. She may feel reassured that there are numerous signs directing people to ‘police station five minutes walk’. How would she feel on arrival to find that the police station has not been there for a number of years? In fact, there is a block of flats in its place.”

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The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire was also informed resulting in the removal of one sign, but there are still multiple others.

The Gazette found six signs around the town centre directing people to the police station, which closed to the public in April 2017 following the opening of the Police Investigation Centre, in Jays Close, Viables.

The police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Donna Jones, said: “It is the responsibility of the highways agency and/or local authorities to ensure that roadside furniture, such as signage, is up to date and accurate.

“I completely understand the importance of having police stations that are accessible to the public which is why I have announced that I will reopen three police stations in the county.

“The neighbourhood policing teams are based in another nearby building in Basingstoke and specialist teams are based at the Northern Investigation Centre in Jays Close. Anyone in distress should always endeavour to call 999.”

Hampshire Constabulary has been asked for a comment.

This article has been updated with a comment from Hampshire County Council. A spokesperson for Hampshire County Council said: “Our highways team will review the signage in the area and will arrange for any redundant directional signs to be removed.”