A building for police officer Taser training is set to be built in Whitefield. Bury Council’s planning committee will next week consider an application for the force to install the building at Whitefield Police Station, Bury New Road.
The supporting statement confirms that GMP has been operating taser training at the site for around five years, largely taking place within the main building with some scenario or role play based activity taking place in a garage area in the rear wing of the building. Training takes place from around 8am to 4pm from Monday to Friday.
They force said the new building is needed for the taser trainers to relocate from an office in the main building into the proposed building. Taser discharge training would not be conducted within the new building, but would continue to takes place from the present locations.
The plans also include the installation of two six metre long car wash areas with screens, to be used for washing vehicles. Documents supporting the plans, said: “As the roads policing unit is to be relocated to the site, there is a requirement to re-start operational vehicle washing at the site.
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“The current vehicle wash has become obsolete and a new jet wash facility would be introduced with protective car wash screens adjacent to the perimeter walls to protect neighbouring properties from spray. “The jet wash would not be used between midnight and 6.30am.”
Five objections to the proposal from neighbouring households have been received by the council. One stated: “I’m concerned about the noise impacts from activity in the proposed building.”
Another objector, said: “Taser training should take place at alternative GM police sites that do not have such a close relationship with adjacent sensitive uses.” A third objector expressed concerns at the number of roads policing unit vehicles (22) and shift handover times, which ‘would create increased noise levels’.
A planning officer response to the complaints which recommends approval of the plans, said: “Taser training presently takes place at the site and is clearly a cause of some nuisance to neighbouring occupier’s amenity. “It appears that GMP have taken steps to consult and provide some reassurance to neighbours.
“However, the local planning authority cannot exercise control over the activities that the neighbours have raised concerns in relation to, as they are reasonably associated with the lawful occupation of the site.”
The committee will decide on the plans at a meeting on Tuesday, April 25.
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