MP Secures Commitments From Home Office On Bruche Police Training Centre

Warrington North MP HELEN JONES secured a commitment from the minister that no stone would be left unturned in efforts to ensure that those who lose their jobs as a result of the closure of Bruche Police Training Centre will get all help possible to obtain alternative employment. The minister, Paul Goggins, also apologised for the way the matter had been handled and confirmed that full consultation with the local community should take place on the future of the site.

In an Adjournment Debate on the subject the MP criticised the way both Centrex and the Home office had handled the closure.She described their actions as:"unacceptable" and as "treating my constituents with a fair amount of contempt."

HELEN JONES highlighted the fact that in November 2004 Centrex told the  Warrington Guardian that the centre was absolutely not closing in 2006 and that on 13 July 2005 she was told by the Home Office minister Hazel Blears that “there are currently no immediate plans to close the Bruche training centre.”

On 21 July Centrex sent an e-mail at 6.04 pm, four minutes after Parliament rose for the summer recess,  announcing the closure of three centres including Bruche. This ensured no Parliamentary scrutiny was possible until the Autumn. The MP went on to describe further failures in communication by both the Home Office and Centrex saying:

"It is entirely unacceptable for Centrex and the Home Office to behave in this way when we are talking about people’s livelihoods and the future of their communities."

HELEN JONES further criticised Centrex for not engaging with the local council’s redundancy support services,  economic development and the job centre until the day before the debate. She pointed out that the written-down value of the site was around £3 million when it was transferred to Centrex and speculated on its current worth and asked if any windfall profit could be used to benefit local people and those losing their jobs.

In summing up she highlighted residents concerns about over development in the area and existing traffic problems. She reminded the minister that Hazel Blears had said she was "keen that there should be proper engagement" with the local community about the future of the site.  The MP said she would "like to see that keenness translated into reality" because nothing had happened so far.

Home Office minister Paul Goggins replying for the government said he was pleased that Helen Jones had secured the debate and was raising her concerns in a characteristically forthright way. He continued by apologising for any difficulties or misunderstandings that had occurred as a result of Home Office correspondence and admitted that there were lessons to be learned by the Home Office and Centrex from the way the matter had been handled. He went on to assure Helen Jones that no stone should be unturned in helping those losing their jobs secure alternative employment and promised. He praised both Helen Jones and the local ward councillors for their commitment to full consultation with the community on the future of the site.

Following the debate HELEN JONES said:

"It was important that this matter was brought to Parliament.  The Home Office and Centrex have handled the situation badly and I was pleased to receive an apology not only to me as the MP for the area but also to the residents of Bruche and the employees at the centre as well.

It is vital that Centrex now engage fully with the council and other agencies in assisting those who are to be made redundant and that full consultation takes place with local people on the future of the site. To me this means real consultation prior to any decisions being taken, even those in principle. I will continue to press for such consultation and for any profit Centrex make on the site to be, at least in part, used to benefit the whole community."