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North-east police face £2 million station repair bill

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More than £2million has been spent repairing north-east police stations in the last year three years.

Official figures show the force has paid out millions of pounds to fix and upgrade their bases in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Bosses had to shell out for boiler repairs, blocked toilets, decorating and the regular servicing of cell doors.

Almost £12,000 went on asbestos removal at Bucksburn police station in Aberdeen, there was a £3,105 bill to clean bird mess from Banff police station and it cost nearly £2,000 for a new shower at the Peterhead facility.

There was also a £24,000 office upgrade at Seaton police station, more than £13,000 went on so-called preventative maintenance at Huntly and there was a £2,500 project to install secure gun storage in Elgin.

Shadow justice secretary Liam Kerr said the maintenance bill is another “cost pressure” for the single force.

Mr Kerr said: “Since the creation of Police Scotland in 2013, local police have had to deal with a variety of cost pressures.

“In the north-east, there are fewer police officers and special constables on the street under the SNP.

“The SNP policy of charging more for non-domestic rates also means that our local police are paying hundreds of thousands of pounds more for their stations than elsewhere in the country.

“Following effective representations by the Scottish Conservatives, the UK Government recently cleared up the SNP’s mess on the VAT paid by Scotland’s emergency services.

“That money must be used to help local police maintain a visible and effective presence in our communities.”

North East Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said it was important for the police to invest in their estate to make sure operations were efficient.

He said: “It is important that Police Scotland continues to make the necessary investments to ensure police stations in the north-east are fit for purpose.

“What we do not know is whether this maintenance work is up-to-date, or whether there is a backlog.

“Perhaps Police Scotland could follow the good example of other public bodies, and tell us how much essential work remains to be done in each divisional area.”

Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said he “hoped” the force could find the money needed to make officers and civilian staff have a “modern and appropriate” workplace.

He said: “It is important that our police officers and civilian staff are provided with a modern and appropriate working environment and I hope that Police Scotland are able to identify funds to ensure that this is the case.

“It is well known that the current financial climate is very challenging for the public sector across Scotland and the UK but I do hope that Police Scotland will ensure that our police stations in the north-east receive their fair share of investment.”

The high repair bills have come to light just months after a string of police stations were put up for sale.

The bases in Cruden Bay, Oldmeldrum, Portsoy, Insch and Kemnay, Dyce, Cove Library, Hazlehead and Kaimhill were all deemed surplus to requirements and the move is aimed at saving £1.5million.

Work to build a new station at Buchan House in Peterhead is still in the planning stages. It will replace the current base at Rose Street.

Last night, police estates chief Phil Collard said the force always look to get “value for money” when it comes to repairs.

He said: “Police Scotland has a programme of planned (preventative) maintenance for all our buildings.

“The costs also relate to repairs which have been undertaken on a reactive basis and at short notice, for example burst pipes or equipment breakdowns.

“We seek to achieve value for money in all of our decisions including those relating to repairs and maintenance of our estate.”