Cops talk of moving out of eyesore office
Police Scotland were considering moving officers out of their rundown Ayr station in King Street, it is understood.
A source said bosses are thinking about renting a South Ayrshire Council office in the town as a base instead.
It is claimed council- owned Newton House could be an option.
The Green Street Lane property in Newton- on- Ayr lies less than a mile away from King Street.
A source said: “I think it would work well for Police Scotland as there is parking available.”
Repairing the town’s police station could cost millions of pounds - and its poor condition was discussed at a Scottish Parliament committee last year.
Police Chief Inspector Brian Anderson, of Ayr Police Office, said all options are being looked at with no concrete plans decided yet.
The South Ayrshire Area Commander said: “The police station on King Street, Ayr, has served us well but now requires modernisation and upgrade.
“We are currently reviewing all of the available options to ensure we can maintain a visible, accessible and responsive service which keeps people safe.
“There are no formal plans regarding any new location, including Newton House.
“Any future plans will be subject to the approval of the Scottish Police Authority.”
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said the Ayr station is one of a number of “decrepit” buildings in the force.
Last year at a Holyrood Justice Sub- Committee meeting he said the “Ayr office was probably carved out of asbestos- that is the general belief, given the amount of asbestos in the building.”
A council spokesman said discussions with police are ongoing and added: “We continue to talk to a number
of public sector partners and agencies with a view to exploring any shared opportunities that may present
themselves. There are no formal plans approved or in place for the police to move into part of Newton House at this stage.”