Hard cell! 30 police stations on market
Single force decides offices ‘no longer required’
THIRTY police stations are being put up for sale by Scotland’s cash-strapped force.
They have been chosen following a public consultation exercise by Police Scotland.
The Scottish Police Authority (SPA) has appointed a commercial property firm to manage the sale.
The stations include Anderston in Glasgow, a C-listed building in Uddingston in Lanarkshire, Kincardine, Cardenden and Rosyth in Fife, Blackburn and Bo’ness in West Lothian and Bridge of Allan and Bannockburn in Stirlingshire.
The Anderston station has been marketed at offers over £800,000, with Uddingston at offers over £110,000.
Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell said: ‘Since the launch of the single force, police resources have been under constant attack. The rank and file are holding Police Scotland together while the Scottish Government and police hierarchy make a mess of things.
‘People across the country will be hugely dismayed to see their police stations close. They help give people confidence that they are safe and have someone to turn to. This should be reviewed as a matter of urgency.’
Shepherd chartered surveyors said 21 stations would be put on the market this month, adding they could be refurbished for a variety of uses, subject to council approval.
Other stations for sale include Cruden Bay, Portsoy and Kemnay in the North-East and Bridge of Earn, Muirhead and Letham in Tayside.
Stations listed in the Highlands and Islands include Invergordon, Brora, Bonar Bridge, Baltasound, and Whalsay.
Sandy Rennie, a partner in Shepherd’s Inverness office, said: ‘Shepherd will review and inspect all the buildings, provide a market assessment, formalise a disposal strategy, provide planning advice, market the properties, negotiate any sale and provide general guidance and advice throughout the entire process.’
In September, Police Scotland announced plans for a public consultation following a review of its entire estate.
The force said then that it was considering closing 53 properties that were ‘no longer required’.
Last year, eight stations, including seven in Lanarkshire, were put on the market, at prices ranging from £40,000 to £150,000.
The Police Scotland website currently lists Linlithgow and Port Glasgow stations as being for sale.
Superintendent Angus MacInnes, of Police Scotland’s Estates Programme, said: ‘The sale of these properties will not impact on the service provided to the public and our officers will continue to be deployed within their local communities across Scotland.
‘The properties which are to be marketed by Shepherds are empty and many of them have been unused for a considerable period of time.
‘It was considered the service’s resources would achieve better value by being invested in the enhancement of policing services rather than in maintaining empty buildings.’