Monthly Archives: January 2015

Could Petition of 2000 names save the old police station.

Since the Society published a story on our website and Facebook pages, about saving the old Police Station in Exchange Street from demolition, Karl Vaughan and the Aylesbury Remembered Facebook have launched a petition which has gathered over 2000 signatures. The petition has been delivered to Cllr Martin Tett Leader of Bucks County Council. It is hoped that he will take heed of the publics concern about the possible loss of this much loved old building and reverse the decision to demolish it in February.

The Aylesbury Society has been fighting to keep both these historic buildings since 2009. Our failure to get them listed by English Heritage in 2010 has never diminished our desire to see them back in use,  and saved for the town as one of the few remaining 1930’s buildings. They were built as a matching pair and, as such,  should remain so. To demolish one and leave the other would detract from the street scene.

Past excuses from all councils has been that no one wants them,  and they would be too expensive for potential owners to refurbish.   The excuse now is that the building needs to be demolished to make way for an entrance to the new car park.  However, having inspected the gap between the cinema and the police station,  there is ample space for 2 way traffic, similar to the existing Exchange St car park.. If absolutely necessary,  why not demolish part of the former prison wall to make additional access space. We are also told that 20 car park spaces would also be lost if the building remained.   This is nothing compared to the jobs that a new  restaurant would bring to the town. It would also support AVDC’s plan of making Aylesbury a ‘ a destination of choice,   and a centre for entertainment and the arts’. What better place for a restaurant than opposite the Waterside Theatre and next to the Odeon cinema.

It is never too late to change plans, and we would hope that council take notice of the calls to save our beloved old buildings.