Police eye closure of six stations in Tayside

A TOTAL of six police stations in Tayside have been earmarked for closure.

An estate strategy published by Police Scotland shows that Broughty Ferry, Bridge of Earn, Stanley, Letham, Muirhead and Carnoustie’s current buildings could be closed as part of plans to generate revenue and to make savings.

The potential closure of Broughty Ferry’s police station has already been revealed, but the future of Carnoustie’s had not been previously discussed publicly.

But local councillor Bill Bowles, who is a former police officer, said it was potentially good news.

He said: “This was on the radar and we have been in discussions with Police Scotland regarding this.

“One of the provisions was about moving into the access office at the Burgh Chambers in Carnoustie’s High Street.

“It would be similar to what they have done in Monifieth. If that is the outcome then that would be fine.

“The current station doesn’t have much to it — it’s mainly just somewhere where the officers start and finish their shift. There isn’t a custody suite so that function wouldn’t change.

“It’s important there still is a police presence in Carnoustie.

“I think that the police office would be in the centre of town would actually be better for us and would make the police more visible.

“I also think it would be a money saver for Police Scotland.

“Initially we were concerned the local police would be lost and would be based in Arbroath, but there has been no suggestion of that.”

There have also been concerns over the future of Dundee’s West End station at Ryehill, but it hasn’t been listed on Police Scotland’s estate strategy document.

West End councillor Fraser Macpherson said: “I would suggest the reason why Ryehill is not on that list is because myself and the community council chairman Peter Menzies had a meeting with the police recently.

“We said we would like to see a shared use with the volunteer sector or the city council.

“They said they would take a few months to look at the viability of that and they gave a commitment in writing that during that time, they will take any possible closure of Ryehill off the table.

“It’s only right that we give them a bit of time to do that.”