Vacant Callington police station purchased by funeral directors

The vacant former police station in Callington has been purchased by a local family business, it was announced this week.

The rumour mill had been in hyper-drive recently after ‘sold’ signs were put up outside the Saltash Road premises, which has been empty for more than two years.

But it was confirmed this week that South West family business Walter C Parson Ltd has purchased the building.

The news that the building will be in use once again has delighted local residents and councillors alike.

Helen Dowdall, town clerk for Callington Town Council, said that everyone was delighted that the building will be used once again, instead of falling into disrepair.

‘It’s great news that the building will be utilised and is good that it’s a local business that will be in the building and get it back to its former glory. Hopefully this will bring more businesses into the town and help the town bloom once again.’

John Ware, assistant managing director of Walter C Parson, said: ‘We have our architect measuring up at the moment and we hope to be open in 12 months time.

‘This will be our eleventh funeral home in the South West and it fits nicely between our homes in Saltash and Tavistock — plus it is in a fantastic location. There is parking for eight cars which is great for our customers and the site is large enough to allow us to have a funeral home to the standards that we want to achieve.

‘This is the seventh generation to run the business and it is a business that started in Stoke Climsland so we are almost going back to our roots.’

Careful consideration was given to the various options for the former police station, by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), before it was approached by Walter C Parson Ltd.

A spokesperson from the OPCC said: ‘Callington Police Station ceased to be operational two years ago and has been empty since.

‘In 2017 the force was approached with an offer to purchase the site, with the condition that a change of use to retail premises were granted.

‘The application for this was granted on December 18 and the sale was completed on December 20 to Walter C Parson Ltd.’

Callington Police Station closed its doors late in 2015. There are now three PCSOs, one neighbourhood beat manager, one neighbourhood sergeant and one response officer who are located at a new office within Callington, which is not accessible to the public.

PCSO Jo Addems said: ‘While there are no facilities to receive members of the public at the new office, we continue to provide a quality policing service in the area and encourage local residents to report their concerns and local policing matters to us.’

If people wish to speak to an officer they need to use social media, or call 101 from their personal mobile phones or from the police telephone located at the bottom of Callington Town Hall.

Once a month Callington police have a ’meet and greet’ in the foyer of the town hall — the next one will be on February 1 from 10am to noon.

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