Claims that extra funding has been agreed to protect opening hours at a cuts-threatened Leeds police station have been disputed.
Controversial proposals were in the pipeline to close Morley Police Station’s front counter to the public on Saturdays and to reduce opening hours in the week to save money.
The plans – among proposed reductions in hours at stations across Leeds – sparked widespread objections from everyone from residents and councillors to politicians.
Now, independent councillors representing Morley on Leeds City Council and Morley Town Council have announced that £5,000 of funding has been agreed between the two councils and the police to maintain current opening hours.
In a statement they said: “A plan has been agreed which will deliver the funding to keep Morley Police Station’s public counter open on Saturdays with longer opening hours on some evenings.”
But Coun Karen Bruce, the chair of Leeds City Council’s Outer South Area Committee – which has to agree to contribute a share of the cash – said that claim was premature.
She said: “This matter has not yet been to an Outer South Area Committee meeting and therefore, although discussions have taken place... no area committee decision has been made on it.
“The Morley Borough Independents have jumped the gun.”
The area committee will not meet again until December.
Morley and Outwood MP Ed Balls, who has voiced concerns over the proposed hours reduction, said more than 1,000 people had been in touch with his office about the issue.
He said: “Everyone is extremely concerned about the local impact of massive cuts to local policing budgets that have gone too far, too fast.”
Chief Supt Paul Money, divisional commander for City and Holbeck police, added: “Despite the current pressure on budgets, we are determined to remain as accessible as possible to the public.”
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