Up for cell… seven old police stations
Strathaven price of £150k includes two flats
Seven former Lanarkshire police stations have been put up for sale.
Buildings in Strathaven, Newarthill, Stonehouse, Forth, Viewpark, Newmains and Muirhead are on the market.
The sale of the stations will bring in funds and cut costs, with prices ranging from £40,000 to £150,000.
The Strathaven office is for sale at offers over £150,000, Viewpark will cost more than £100,000 and the one in Newarthill is on sale for £90,000.
Muirhead’s station will cost more than £50,000 and the one in Newmains more than £40,000.
The price of the two-storey Strathaven building includes two flats. The top floor of the building is accessed by the two staircases at either side of it.
The counter service at Strathaven police station was cut in 2014 – with locals and politicians fearing the move would result in an increase in crime in the area.
However, Clydesdale MSP Aileen Campbell felt that the town was still served well without the police office.
She said: “I recently met with Lanarkshire police to ensure that their service remains accessible and responsive.
“Review of their estate is against a backdrop of a fall in recorded crime across South Lanarkshire of 37 per cent in the 10 years between 2006/07, when the SNP came to power, and 2015/16 – part of a nationwide fall of 41 per cent.
“This fall is down to a lot of hard work and effort by our local police officers, but we cannot be complacent.
“With localism, inclusion and responsiveness as themes that will inform policing priorities in Scotland, I am confident the police will continue their hard work to keep us safe.”
Central Scotland MSP Margaret Mitchell said:“the establishment of the single police force was championed by the SNP as resulting in huge cost savings and greater efficiency.
“Instead it has never managed to balance the books.
“Consequently, local police offices have been closed, including as many as eight in Lanarkshire, and are now being sold off in an attempt to address the gap in funding the service.
“These local offices were a visible communication point for the general public to seek advice or bring important local information to police officers’ attention at a time of their choosing.
“Despite the efforts of dedicated rank and file officers, the single police force has been a car crash. A rethink is desperately required.”
Chief Superintendent Roddy Irvine said: “As part of Police Scotland’s current assessment of its estate, a number of properties are being offered for sale in the Lanarkshire area.
“These properties have not been used for operational policing for some time and community policing services are delivered from other police stations. By having buildings in the correct locations, we are able to enhance and support the delivery of local policing through greater visibility and accessibility.
“It’s important that we have buildings that support modern, operational policing and are fit for purpose.
“By making the best use of the property we retain, we will be more efficient and make better use of public funds that can be reinvested into frontline policing.
“There will be no change to the way that we deliver our local policing service and our communities remain at the heart of everything we do.”