A LANDMARK former police station branded an eyesore after falling into serious disrepair must be “dealt with” as a matter of urgency, leading councillors say.

Back in 2011, Rochford police station closed its doors to the public for the final time.

In 2017, the site was reportedly sold by Essex Police for £925,000 to an unnamed developer.

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However, the old police station site has remained vacant since closing and has become a blot on the landscape. 

One councillor believes it is now time to “deal with” this site and try and get a plan in place to refurbish it.

James Gooding, Rochford District Independent Party councillor for Roche South ward, said: “I think it does need dealing with, but it needs to be taken in with the overall context of the area.”

Mr Gooding said he wasn’t convinced the building should be pulled down and sold to a developer. 

He added: “Personally, I would like to see it refurbished even for some sort of hub for the community. It is something that could be of interest, and something I would certainly suggest we look at.

“Obviously at the moment, a number of things going on with Mill Hall and Freight House, but overall I think it does need to be looked at rather than leave it vacant there as an eyesore.

“But my idea initially would be something for the community, obviously there is a lot that would need to go into that to make it a reality, but it is an early thought of mine.

“We have had a pandemic though in between since it closed, so a lot was thrown in the air, and life is different to before, so I don’t think anyone is to blame or should be criticised for the lack of progress on this site.”

When the building was first sold by Essex Police it was expected it would be redeveloped for housing. The station was one of nine Essex police buildings closed and sold off in the early 2010s.

Last month, urban explorers unveiled the inside of the former police station which has fallen into a state of disrepair.

Martin Halliday, a south Essex explorer who runs the YouTube channel DE-eVOLVED, said the building was “seriously dilapidated inside” and that there were “very few traces of anything police related”.

Speaking of his hopes, Mr Halliday said: “It needs to be something that will benefit the community.

“Perhaps something like a school for children with learning difficulties, or even divide the building up for two purposes. This could be half for dentistry and the other a surgery.

“But personally, I would like to see it repurposed as a school as the yard is an ideal size for a playground.

“Once the work and care to preserve it has happened, and the face of the building is sorted, it would be a great looking building too.

“The building should certainly be preserved as the architect designed it for whatever the use may be.”

To watch the urban explorers’’ YouTube video, visit https://bit.ly/3ZFAdiu