URBAN explorers unveiled the inside of a dilapidated former police that has lain vacant for more than 12 years since it was closed.
Rochford Police Station, in West Street, was sold by Essex Police to an unnamed developer for £925,000 on 2017.
The station, which closed to the public in 2011, has fallen into a state of disrepair with questioning lingering over the future of the building.
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Martin Halliday, a 41-year-old from Shoebury, explores old and empty buildings as well as historic sites in south Essex for his Facebook and Youtube channel DE-eVOLVED.
In his latest video, the urban explorer pulls back the veil on the abandoned former police station.
“The building was seriously dilapidated inside, there were very few traces of anything police related however we did find a folder, and there were some stickers etc on some of the doors, for the most part though it was damp, rotten and in ruins,” he said.
“It’s been on our 'to do' list for a while and just recently I got a 'heads-up' from another explorer that it can now be accessed without time to even draw my next breath I jumped in my car and made my way there.
“It was an excellent explore. It was fascinating to see behind the walls of an old police station.”
A full video showing the exploration will be live on the urban explorer’s Youtube channel next week.
When the building was first sold by Essex Police it was expected it would be redeveloped for housing.
The station was one of nine Essex Police buildings closed and sold off in the early 2010s, including South Benfleet station, Westcliff station and three police buildings in Pitsea, to creating savings of more than £40 million.
Roche South Conservative councillor Arthur Williams says he would like to see the site brought back into use.
“It has been closed an awful long time, and we need to make the most of brownfield sites rather than leaving them empty,” Mr Williams said.
“I would absolutely like to see something done with the building and soon.”
To follow the urban explorers, head to Youtube https://youtube.com/@DE-eVOLVED
Or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/702523180374388/?ref=share
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