A FAITH room and breastfeeding facilities are planned for a major upgrade of Chard police station.

The proposals – which went out to tender in January at a projected cost of £907,000 – are intended to bring the building up to a higher standard for members of the public and officers.

Somerset Council is expected to make a decision on the proposals by the late-spring.

The station is based on one of Chard’s main roads, not far from the Millfield industrial estate and the town’s leisure centre.

Under the proposals, the station will be fitted with solar panels and air source heat pumps to reduce its energy bills, with new fencing and gates being installed for improved security.

New windows will also be installed and repairs made to the existing roof to minimise heat loss.

The interior layout will be reconfigured to include a new locker room, accessible toilets, breastfeeding facilities and a faith room (where officers of different religious beliefs can pray or meditate).

Simon Metcalfe, an associate at Alder King Planning (representing Avon and Somerset Police), said: “The existing police station serves a valuable community function and is in need of renovation and investment to bring it up to modern policing standards.

“Avon and Somerset Constabulary is proposing to invest in both the fabric of the building, enhance the sustainability and energy efficiency of the
building and provide proportionate security improvements.

“The proposals have been carefully considered to ensure that the station is fit for policing in the future and meets the needs of the applicant, while taking account of the character of the area and amenity of adjacent residential occupiers.”

These proposals come nine months after the force scrapped its planned £6.2m upgrade of Yeovil police station in favour of refurbishing the existing building on Horsey Lane – a process which has already cost taxpayers more than £1.3m.

In a joint statement, police and crime commissioner Mark Shelford and chief constable Sarah Crew said: “We are committed to investing in our police stations across south Somerset to better serve our rural communities.

“The investment planned as part of the Chard police station refurbishment will provide a productive, collaborative, inclusive and future-proofed working environment for the officers and staff delivering policing services to the town.”

The council is expected to make a decision on the plans in the coming months – though it is currently unclear whether the plans will require the public approval of its planning committee south (which handles significant applications in the former South Somerset area).

If permission is granted, construction is expected to get under way later in the year.