LUCEA, Hanover — With residents giving the proposal a thumbs up, a state-of-the-art police station is to be built in Dias, Hanover, according to Superintendent Sharon Beeput who made the announcement during Thursday’s monthly meeting of the parish’s municipal corporation.

“It will happen soon,” she said.

Residents’ input had been sought, she said, to stave off any objections once work begins.

“What we said to them is that we don’t want when the station starts we have anybody blocking any road. We don’t want that,” explained Beeput.

The new station, which is expected to serve approximately 30 communities when completed, will replace an existing facility located approximately 1.5 miles away in Kingsvale.

Superintendent Beeput said the Dias facility “is going to be a bigger one. It is a state-of-the-art, two-storey station with parking, a community centre etc. I can’t explain all of it now but that will be there. The citizens are happy about that,” she said.

The Kingsvale Police Station once had a juvenile cell attached but that part of the facility was closed a few years ago. It is not clear if the structure proposed for Dias will have a similar feature. These and other details may be provided during future discussions with residents, possibly at the next meeting on Wednesday in Kingsvale Square, said Beeput.

Mayor of Lucea Sheridan Samuel said the new police station is welcome news. He also pointed to the importance of the proposed police post in Hopewell becoming reality.

A year ago, the Jamaica Observer reported that the Hanover Municipal Corporation (HMC) decided to forego annual revenue of $251,000 for a property it owns in Hopewell in order to facilitate the establishment of a much-needed police post in that coastal town.

With Hopewell fast becoming a crime hot spot and the nearest police station located approximately three and a half miles away in Sandy Bay, the HMC decided to allow the police the use of the property for a peppercorn lease of $1,000 per year for 50 years.

However, repairs and upgrading work must be done to the station before it can be used.

The parties involved are currently tying up paper work before the property is handed over.

The Hopewell post, when established, will serve 21 communities which are currently included in the 51 communities covered by the Sandy Bay Police Station.