Proposals to bring a former north-east police station back to life have been unveiled.
Aberdeenshire Council’s ambition to bring Fraserburgh’s dilapidated police station on Kirk Brae back into use as part of an on-going regeneration drive was first mooted in 2014.
Now, following an award of more than £1million in Scottish Government funding, the authority has finally unveiled its scheme to the public and submitted a planning application.
The council wants to repair the existing stonework of the building – part of Fraserburgh Town House – and create new meeting spaces which local businesses can make use of by means of a rear extension.
The regeneration project – dubbed Fraserburgh 2021 – is expected to cost the authority £5million and will also aim to improve shop frontages and staff training opportunities in the port.
In a design statement submitted alongside the proposals, London firm Moxon Architects say the bid will provide a
“welcoming public facing entrance and ‘front of house’ for the council”.
“The council propose to make the chamber and lobby areas available for community functions such as meetings and small-scale exhibitions,” a spokesman added.
“An example of this might be for the public exhibition of a large-scale development.”
Fraserburgh Town House was designed in 1853 by architect Thomas Mackenzie on the corner of Kirk Brae and Saltoun Square, featuring a statue of Lord Saltoun over its front door.
The police station extension was designed to match in 1906 and was in use until officers moved to a new base in the town’s Finlayson Street almost 20 years ago.
Three of Fraserburgh’s councillors have already voiced their support of the scheme going ahead.
Michael Watt, however, has branded the council’s plan to spend millions on the project as a “total disgrace”.
Councillors were briefed on the scheme in November last year, when Mr Watt said he had never supported the work.
“We’re going to spend about £4million of taxpayers’ money which is a total disgrace,” he said.
“People aren’t going to come to Fraserburgh for this.”
