GRANVILLE, St James — Warning that the violence-plagued Granville Division “can erupt at any time”, Councillor Michael Troupe is calling for action on the police station that was shuttered more than a year ago after a fire.

“They know the situation in Granville. We have seven unplanned areas, some people call it capture land, and Granville is an area that can erupt at any time, any given time,” he lamented.

“It’s a difficult situation and I thought by now we would [have] done some cleaning up and all those things. I’ve been asking ever since the police station burned down and I’ve just been getting that they are working on it and no tangible updates,” he added.

On May 19 last year, the station was closed as a fire left it inhabitable. A short circuit of electrical wiring is believed to be the cause of the blaze that left $20 million dollars in damage. The barracks room, waiting area and other areas of the building were damaged.

Operations were temporarily moved to the Meadows of Irwin housing development. Having the Granville police posted in another community, said Troupe, is far than ideal.

“People can’t afford taxi fare to go to Irwin,” he said.

He is also concerned about the response time from lawmen posted at Irwin.

“A lady died, natural causes, and when them call Irwin, it took them four hours for the police to come and that is not good service. Most persons in Granville now don’t know the station number around there. Most persons in Granville, Retirement don’t have a clue,” he said.

There is a sign on the padlocked gates of the police station, indicating that it has relocated and the number to call.

According to Troupe, residents have asked for a mobile police station to be placed in Granville until the police station is once again up and running. He is calling on the relevant authorities to put things in place so the station can be returned to the community.

“Whatever they are planning, whatever they are doing, whatever plan they are putting in place they must make haste and plan because the station is really needed in Granville,” he appealed.

“With the police station there, people can feel more secure. Even while they step up on the patrols, they feel more secure with a police station,” he added.