PLANS to close Wealdstone police station have been put on hold.

News that the Metropolitan Police Authority planned to close the station in High Street and sell the grade two listed building, sparked an uproar from residents who said removing the police presence would have a detrimental affect on the area. More than 200 people signed a petition raised by Wealdstone Active Community opposing the closure.

But Lord Toby Harris, chairman of the MPA and Labour member of the Greater London Assembly for Brent and Harrow, said on Tuesday that he had received guarantees from New Scotland Yard that the station would remain open until alternative premises were found.

He said: "I was very concerned about reports concerning the future of Wealdstone police station, particularly as the MPA has made it clear that no local police stations should close without proper local consultation, and only with the agreement of the MPA.

"It is very important that it is made as easy as possible for local people to contact and see the police, and it is very important in my view that there is a continued police presence in Wealdstone."

Borough commander Chief Superintendent Alex Fish said: "This falls short of the borough's aspirations to keep the station open permanently. Both the police and Harrow Council acknowledge that the building is under-used and a business case was submitted to the MPA to retain the station to accommodate both police and local authority facilities. That was turned down.

"The MPA has now told us it will re-consider this proposal so we have identified a range of services, including the youth offending team, drugs action team, the council's crime reduction unit and street wardens, police community support officers, and voluntary groups such as Neighbourhood Watch, which could be located in this building, retaining the ground floor as an operational police station.

"We will be submitting this new plan to the MPA by the end of this week, urging it to reconsider its decision."