County Durham’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Joy Allen has launched a public consultation for the future of policing in one of the county’s largest towns.

Residents of Newton Aycliffe have until November 13 to make their views known to the PCC on the “options” for policing in the town after ongoing searches for premises to house the police force have been unsuccessful.

The current force resides at the Community Fire Station on Central Avenue in Newton Aycliffe, after the police building was demolished in 2013.

The Northern Echo: Community Fire Station on Central Avenue in Newton Aycliffe.Community Fire Station on Central Avenue in Newton Aycliffe. (Image: GOOGLE MAPS)

But, following the end of a ten-year lease at the station which expires in December, the police force comprising 25 response officers and three neighbourhood officers have been forced to look for alternative accommodation.

Commissioner Allen said: “Newton Aycliffe Neighbourhood Policing team will remain at the County Durham and Darlington Fire & Rescue Service offices whilst we find a suitable building in the town.

“This means local neighbourhood officers will be fully operational at the premises, and visible to our communities, whilst we work on alternative plans.

“The Constabulary has already viewed a number of premises in recent months but has discounted them as not being suitable as a police base, and is actively engaged in further work to identify suitable premises.

“This is why we need to understand the views of the public to ensure we find a solution which works for the town, is cost-effective and operationally sound.

“I understand residents' concerns and I want to assure people that we are working hard to identify a long-term solution that maintains local officers in the heart of the communities they serve.”

This comes weeks after an extraordinary meeting of Great Aycliffe Town Council on October 11 where councillors rescinded a motion which required the new police premises to be in the town centre.

Minutes of the meeting show that a “viable premises had been identified by the police at Parsons Court on Aycliffe Business Park” but the PCC was “reluctant” to investigate as previous council motions demanded the new station to be in town.

Previously, Commissioner Allen attended a heated public meeting at Great Aycliffe Town Council on July 26 whereby she stated teams had been working “significantly” to find a home for the police.

The Northern Echo: Commissioner Allen at the meeting on July 26.Commissioner Allen at the meeting on July 26. (Image: KAYLEIGH FRASER)

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She said: “We want premises in the centre of Newton Aycliffe, not outside, and that is easier said than done. We have been looking significantly around the area, but none have been identified as being suitable to house the police.

“It was a compromise, but it kept our neighbourhood teams at Central Avenue for as long as we possibly could with Steve’s support until we find an alternative piece of land or accommodation.”

Emboldened residents sat in front of a homemade sign reading “don’t nick our nick” as they one by one voiced their concerns, with one claiming the town is like a “war zone”.