Fife Police chiefs have assured the public that plans to move police stations in St Andrews and Cowdenbeath will not have an adverse impact on policing.
The region’s police, fire and safety committee backed proposals to see the force save cash and cut carbon emissions by moving out of the buildings it uses in both areas.
Under the plans, St Andrews police station in North Street will close and officers will move to the former health centre in Pipeland Road, with public counter service expected for the council offices in St Mary’s Place to ensure a town centre presence.
Around £100,000 set aside in the police’s capital plan for renovation at St Andrews will instead now be spent on converting the Pipeland Road facility, while the money generated from the sale of the North Street station is likely to be invested elsewhere in the force estate.
Cowdenbeath’s station will be shut and sold, with a new base being set up in Fife Council-owned Brunton House in the High Street.
Committee members were told on Thursday that both the buildings in St Andrews and Cowdenbeath do not fit in with the force’s strategic plans and would be “cost prohibitive” to bring up to standard.
Chief constable Norma Graham welcomed the moves and said consultation would be carried out with the public first.
She added, “The case for relocating is fairly compelling, in terms of better public access, financial savings and energy efficiency.”
Police are in discussions with the council about the public counter service at St Mary’s Place.
That is expected to be augmented with a public intercom at the council office, connected to the force’s contact centre.
St Andrews police station, dating from 1905, is said to be in need of significant upgrade and remains the only public access property in the force not fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act.
The force has concluded the layout is “restrictive,” not suitable for modern policing, and that money would be better spent elsewhere.
After NHS Fife declared the Pipeland Road health centre surplus to requirements on opening St Andrews Community Hospital, the organisation has discussed the matter with landowners Fife Council and agreed to offer the building to police at no cost.
Local councillor Bill Sangster described it as a “wonderful idea.”
“Certainly it will do St Andrews a lot of good being where it is and if we can have a front desk at the local office then I think it will be ideal,” he said.
The committee were told Cowdenbeath station needs “substantial spends” to bring it to standard.
Councillor Bill McCulloch praised the Cowdenbeath plan, adding, “I think this is a really good proposal and I’m sure it will provide a more efficient service.”
Councillor Charles Haffey said, “You may be surprised with the kind of attachment people have to a police station in a certain place.
“That’s what happened when the station was moved from Methil High Street there will be a lot of people who like it in the town centre and will require extra reassurance.”