TRADERS have reacted to the news that Chingford Police Station could be relocated to nearby Station Road.
Last week, Chingford and Woodford Green MP, Iain Duncan Smith was assured by the borough commander that, despite the loss of the existing station in Kings Head Hill, a 24-hour police base would remain in the area.
The likely location was given as Station Road.
Chief Supt Steve Wisbey has previously said Chingford Police Station is likely to close, as only 30 per cent of the building is currently in use.
Kelly Farey, 24, runs the Virgo clothes shop in Station Road, which was looted last week following the riot outbreak.
She added: “If there was a police station in Station Road, in the back of people's minds it is there and I think it could put people at ease.
“But just because people feel safer, doesn't mean it will definitely bring crime down.
“The riots last week were not the kind of thing that happens everyday so I don't know if having a police station there would really have affected it."
Celso Lizarondo, 55, who runs Almars Superstore further down the road, which was vandalised and broken into several months ago, welcomed the idea.
He added: “It would be a good thing for the neighbourhood to make people feel safer.
“If anything were to happen I would think that officers would be more likely to get here sooner.
“After the riots the increase in police presence in station road really helped to keep the area quiet.”
Chingford Green Conservative Cllr, Micheal Lewis, said: “I am hoping the current police station does not close.
“There has got to be a 24-hour police presence somewhere for people to have access to the police.
“We really want to keep the police station where it is.
“But if it had to close then Station Road would be an alternative.”
All police property is currently under review after the Met was ordered to cut costs by £260 million over the next four years.
Final recommendations will be presented to the Metropolitan Police authority (MPA) in the coming months.
A more detailed public consultation will then take place each London borough by the end of the year.
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