Top cop slams ‘short-sighted’ decision on police station site
THE head of Durham Constabulary has slammed “short-sighted nimbyism” for depriving the force of a six-figure payday.
Members of Durham County Council’s Highways Committee voted on Friday in favour of an application to designate land at a former police station a village green.
The Office of the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC) had hoped to sell the Bede Kirk site, in Barnard Castle, for housing.
However, the panel’s ruling has put these plans on hold for now.
Durham Constabulary’s Chief Constable Barton said: “To say I am dis-chuffed on behalf of people who need policing in Barnard Castle and rural parts of County Durham really is an understatement.
“It is clear to me that, to continue policing Barnard Castle and its many surrounding villages, I need the six-figure sum which the sale of this land would bring in to the public purse.
“Whitehall has stripped us of money since 2010 and it is a bit rich that a local issue has now done the same.
“This is a classic case of shortsighted nimbyism and an incomprehensible decision, which we will be challenging”.
So far, police chiefs have refused to put a value on how much the deal could be worth to the force.
However, the Durham PCVC office has confirmed it had already included expected income from the sale into spending plans, which will now have to be reassessed.
Durham’s PCVC Ron Hogg said: “I am disappointed in the outcome of this hearing.
“I have a duty to make best use of the assets available to me. This setback will cost the better part of one third of this year’s increase in precept.
“This is a lot of money to make up within our capital budget.
“From the information available at the moment, it appears to me that the site did not fully meet the tests of having regular leisure usage by a significant number of local people for a period of at least 20 years.
“I am taking legal advice on the next steps and strongly considering a legal challenge. At the same time I will be considering alternative options for the site of the former police station building, which is next to the land that was under consideration today”.