Empty police stations costing six figure sums

ALARM has been expressed that four PSNI stations in the G District Command Area are costing in excess of £100,000 to run-despite the fact that two of them are actually closed.

Figures released by the police under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that Dungiven, Eglinton, Claudy and Donemana PSNI stations' cost a total of 114,489.07 to maintain. Dungiven and Eglinton operate just a few hours per week whilst Claudy and Donemana stations closed in August 2009.

Former Chairman of Limavady District Policing Partnership, Councillor Leslie Cubitt was scathing in reaction to the figures.

He said: "Sell the buildings and put the money back into police on the beat. Just close them all permanently and sell them.

"For example, I would question the amount of people who have actually used the stations in the past few years. Providing part of a service is in my estimation worse than providing no service at all.

"Limavady Borough Council would lose out on the rates, but so what? Dungiven station is open two hours a week, that's 104 hours per year. In terms of the rates paid for the station which is approximately 48,000 per year, that means its around 450 in rates every hour the station is open."

The unionist representative also suggested alternatives to maintaining disused and part-time police stations.

Mr Cubitt said: "Why don't they create community police houses, that would cost a hell of a lot less. I'd also like to see the use of Special Constables-volunteer police officers like they use in some parts of England. I travel a lot to England and in Leicester, where the current PSNI Chief Constable operated, they have them there.

"In this current economic climate we cannot afford to hang onto resources that are doing no good."

The sale of portions of the PSNI estate on the open market in G District is not without precedent. The former PSNI station in the Rosemount area of Londonderry recently sold for approximately 250,000 and is currently under development by a contractor building houses on the land.

The PSNI's main website states that Dungiven station is open on 'Tuesday's from 2-4pm and that times are subject to change.' Whilst it also reveals that Eglinton station is open at '11am or from 5-7pm when neoghbourhood policing teams are on duty.'

Running expenses for each of the four stations in the G District Command Area are broken down into four relevant headings: Reactive and PPM (maintenance), Electricity, Oil, Water and Rates.

Costs for Dungiven PSNI Station, which provides a part-time service, broke down in the following way-Reactive and PPM: 15,309.59, Electricity: 7,999.78, Oil:2,578.86, Water:810 and Rates: 47,450.97. The final tally for Dungiven came to 74,149.20.

Operational costs for Eglinton PSNI Station which also has a limited opening period incurred a total of 19,852.35 which broke down in the following way. Reactive and PPM: 10,887.27, Electricity: 5,476.25, Oil: 1,407.84, Water: 286.52 and Rates: 1,893.35.

This means the total cost for operating two stations on a part-time basis cost 94,001.55.

Astonishingly, the total overall cost for maintaining Claudy and Donemana stations, which closed in August 2009 ran to 20,487.52.

Claudy's costs broke down as follows-Reactive and PPM: 4,123.11, Electricity: 3,160.35, Water: 122.29 and Rates: 1,025.54.

Donemana's costs were as follows-Reactive and PPM: 7,821.70, Electricity: 2,806.35, Oil: 174.45, Water: 139.08 and Rates: 1,114.65.

However, a spokeswoman for the PSNI confirmed that both Claudy and Donemana stations are "currently going through the disposal process."

Figures available for stations across Northern Ireland deemed as being part-time, 'lock and leave' premises and closed premises come to a total in excess of 3 million pounds.

In fact the cost for maintaining 23 closed stations in Northern Ireland costs in excess of 380,000. Six stations categorised as 'lock and leave' tallies in excess of 130,000 whilst part-time stations cost over 2.5 million.

A spokeswoman for the PSNI in G District told the Sentinel: "As a publicly funded organisation, the PSNI has a responsibility to ensure that all of our resources-officers, staff, equipment and buildings-are used in the best and most effective way to support frontline policing.

"The Police Service developed an estate strategy in 2005 to cover the period to 2010 and this was endorsed by the Policing Board.The strategy is a balance of investment in new-builds, of refurbishments and a review of existing stations. This review is on the basis of the operational need of commanders in Districts, the condition of buildings and the cost of running these buildings. The final decision on the disposal of any police station is made by the Northern Ireland Policing Board.

"What is important to remember is that the savings released from the running and maintenance costs."

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