A new joint civic centre and police station in Tidworth has been officially opened with the unveiling of a plaque by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton.

A number of guests attended the event, including Pradeep Bhardwaj, the High Sheriff of Wiltshire; Lieutenant Colonel Rupert Whitelegge, the Commander of Tidworth Garrison and a number of local Mayors, councillors from surrounding towns and villages, police officers and members of the Tidworth community.

Work on the £7.3M building began in April 2022, when Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Philip Wilkinson, and the then mayor of Tidworth, Mark Connolly, cut the turf to mark the start of the project.

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Mr Wilkinson said the provision of the new, larger station is a key part of his Police and Crime Plan.

Mr Wilkinson said: "When I first came into post, it was evident there was a gap where there needed to be cover for the east side of Wiltshire.

"This building not only provides that, but it also has the room to provide a base for our specialist teams, should they need it. The building as a whole is a great asset for the community, and through working with Tidworth Town Council, we have been able to combine our resources and give the public real value for money.

"It offers the police, the council and the local community what they need and allows us to better coordinate our activities with the military community in the town."

Carole Webbe, the Mayor of Tidworth, added: "It would have been a much more difficult project to complete without the partnership of the PCC, and we’re thrilled to have the police next door in a facility which serves the whole community.

"Having Wiltshire Police in an adjoining building reassures the public and creates a greater sense of security in Tidworth as a whole."