A LEADING Workington councillor is calling for a police station to be opened in his ward after a man was arrested in connection with a serious assault involving ‘bladed articles’.

Councillor Stephen Stoddart, who represents the Moorclose ward on the town, district and county council, said antisocial and criminal behaviour are rife in the area.

His comments come after a 41-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident on Coniston Drive, Workington, in which two people were injured in the early hours of Wednesday.

Officers were called to a house just before 1am.

A man and woman – aged 37 and 35 - suffered serious but not life threatening injuries. They were taken to the Cumberland Infirmary.

There was a heightened police presence in the area.

Officers confirmed they were not looking for anyone else in connection with this incident.

Mr Stoddart said if a police station was to open on the estate it would not only deter crime, but it would also give confidence back to residents.

He said: “It’s frightening. The police are doing a great job, but I’d love to see a police station in the area.

“It would give people something to think about before they commit an offence and stamp out this kind of behaviour.

“A lot of residents are frightened when they go out, the situation is getting out of hand.”

Mr Stoddart is also concerned about the impact crime is having on the younger generations in the area.

He said: “I’ve lived in Moorclose all my life and what I see today is a lot of angry and disillusioned kids.”

He added that since the closure of the leisure centre and the swimming baths, children had been left with nowhere to go to take part in healthy activities locally.

He said: “There is no infrastructure, we need to put something back into the area, we need investment.”

Mr Stoddart is a member of Allerdale’s executive and he said he was working on projects to regenerate the area.

He added: “The previous Allerdale administration and the county council have taken a hell of a lot out of Moorclose and it’s crying out for investment.”

Coun Stoddart, who is portfolio holder for housing, health and wellbeing, said he was working with housing associations on a series of projects.

Mr Stoddart first called for a police hub to open in Moorclose last year, when Police and Crime Commissioner Peter McColl confirmed Lillyhall was under consideration for a new police HQ. This would be to replace the Hall Brow Station in Workington, which was swamped by two of the county’s floods.

At the time the PCC said there were no firm plans for the Lillyhall site and declined to comment on Mr Stoddart’s suggestion.