West Midlands Police commissioner David Jamieson is under pressure to reverse plans to close Solihull Police Station, after more than 3,500 people signed a petition demanding a rethink.
Solihull MP Julian Knight (Con) said: "It’s time that David Jamieson started listening to the serious concerns that local residents have about the future of our police station."
The closure plans have sparked an angry political debate. Conservative MPs say Mr Jamieson, a Labour politician, is sitting on £100 million in reserve funding.
They also point out that total funding for West Midlands Police is increasing.
However, Labour MPs point out that Government funding for the police has been frozen - which is a cut, after inflation is taken into account. Extra funding has been provided by increasing the police precept, which is added to council tax bills.
Mr Jamieson, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) confirmed this week that he had approved plans drawn up by the West Midlands Chief Constable to save £5 million by closing 24 stations over six years.
Most are currently used only as office space for staff, but the closures include Sutton Coldfield and Solihull stations, which are open to the public.
The petition was organised by Mr Knight and Meriden MP Dame Caroline Spelman. It has been signed by more than 3,500 people on the website change.org.
Mr Knight has also led a Parliamentary debate in which he criticised the plans.
He said: "The number of signatures on this petition is clear proof that, as the Policing Minister said in my special Parliamentary debate on the closure plans, the PCC has completely failed to bring the public with him on this important issue.
"It’s time that David Jamieson started listening to the serious concerns that local residents have about the future of our police station.
“It cannot be right to leave our town without a proper police base when the Police and Crime Commissioner is sitting on over £100 million in reserves and the West Midlands Police just received a £9.5 million funding boost from the Government.
"The people of Solihull deserve to know exactly what the future shape of local policing will be before any decision is made to close Solihull Police Station."
Dame Caroline said, “If anything is to be learnt from these past few months, it is that crime in Solihull Borough is no less severely felt by its residents than those who live in the city centre.
"It would be a very short-sighted decision for the PCC to sign off on the closure of Solihull Police station and I would like to extend my thanks to everyone who has signed this petition to make the strength of local feeling known”.
Labour MPs have also condemned place station closures in their areas. However, they say the Government, rather than the PCC, is to blame.
Jack Dromey (Lab Erdington) is campaigning against the closure of Kingstanding police station.
He said: "Local Tories are also guilty of hypocrisy. They say they want the police station to remain open but slavishly support their Government slashing our Police Service and Police Officers."
The closure timetable
Prouds Lane, Bilston - Summer 2018
Nechells - Early 2019
Kingstanding - Spring 2019
Quinton - Spring 2019
Canley, Coventry - Spring 2019
Sedgley, Dudley - Summer 2019
Balsall Heath - Autumn 2019
Oldbury - Early 2020
Aldridge - Spring 2020
Tipton - Summer 2020
Wednesfield - Summer 2020
Acocks Green - Late 2020
Shard End - Late 2020
Sutton Coldfield - Late 2020
Solihull - Late 2020
Harborne - Spring 2021
Digbeth - Summer 2021
Smethwick - Summer 2021
Princip Street - Summer 2021
Edgbaston - Autumn 2021
Wednesbury - Summer 2022
Foleshill, Coventry - Spring 2023
Willenhall, Coventry - Spring 2023
Handsworth - Spring 2024