AVON and Somerset Police have announced the new and permanent home for Southmead Police Station will be at Southmead Hospital.

The new station will house an enquiry office open to the public and provide a base for the area's policing team.

It will be based at Westgate House, which is adjacent to the Southmead Road entrance to Southmead Hospital. The police station is expected to open this autumn after refurbishment work is completed.

Inspector Rob Cheeseman said: “We are delighted to have a new home in Southmead, only a short distance from the old police station.

“We have always been committed to keeping a police station in Southmead; it is important that our local officers and PCSOs are based in the community they serve.

“We are looking forward to working closer with our NHS colleagues at Southmead Hospital.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: “I am delighted to be able to announce that the Constabulary’s new Southmead police station will be moving to Westgate House.

"For some time there has been understandable uncertainty by local people about the policing presence in the area, despite our continued commitment to maintaining a footprint in the community.

“Local people have not only written to me about the importance of their neighbourhood policing team in Southmead, but also shared their feelings with me when I attended the Henbury, Brentry and Southmead Neighbourhood Partnership meeting. I hope residents will feel reassured that the police are not leaving the area and will find the new base, alongside our NHS colleagues, both accessible and more convenient.”

Director of estates, facilities and capital planning, Simon Wood: “We are delighted to be working with the police to benefit our local community and look forward to welcoming our colleagues from Avon Somerset Police onto the Southmead site and strengthening our working with them.”

The temporary police station, located at Southmead Fire Station, will remain until the new station opens.