THE former Citizens Advice Bureau office in Stourbridge is being eyed up as a potential new police base.

Councillor Steve Clark, who represents Wollaston and Stourbridge Town, says he has been working with Dudley Council and West Midlands Police to try to return a police presence to the town amid growing calls for officers to have a base in Stourbridge.

Discussions had been taking place about the possibility of having officers operate out of Stourbridge's Crystal Leisure Centre following the closure of the town's historic police station in New Road in 2017 but according to Cllr Clark the leisure venue was "ruled out by West Midlands Police due to the high refurbishment cost".

They have temporarily been using an empty unit in the Ryemarket shopping centre in recent weeks but the old CAB office in Market Street, which has been empty since the charity moved out last year, has now been identified as a possible permanent base.

Cllr Clark, who told Home Secretary Sajid Javid of his wish to return a police base to Stourbridge when the Government minister visited the town, said: "At last we have identified a suitable building for them to work from. It will be fantastic if we can keep the police in the town."

Dudley Council owns the former CAB building and Alan Lunt, the council's strategic director for place, said: “We have been in talks with police for some time to find them a suitable base in Stourbridge.

"We are pleased we have been able to secure one of our buildings in Market Street which will ensure police remain present and visible in the town.”

A spokesman for the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner confirmed the former CAB building was being looked at as part of plans to "base Stourbridge neighbourhood teams within the heart of the local community" and he added: "At this stage, it is one of a number of options while the team are exploring different locations."

An application has been lodged to turn the old ring road facing police station into 29 apartments.