Plans to move Crieff Police Station to a new site on the Strathearn Community Campus have been abandoned.
Tayside Police had been in advanced discussions with Perth and Kinross Council over the move but will now think again after it heeded the concerns of locals who believed policing in the town would be adversely affected.
The move was also deemed financially inadvisable, after Tayside Police took the opportunity to check its sums during the community consultation process.
It will now consider other sites for a new office, and stay in the existing town centre building in the meantime.
Crieff Police Office has been based at its current location for more than 100 years, but now contains a number of areas that are no longer used, including the cells and the doctor’s room.
Tayside Police maintains that the building is no longer fit for purpose and has always stressed that there would be no reduction in police staffing, or the service provided to the local area, as a result of any move.
Inspector Ian Ward, senior officer for the area, had believed the move to the community campus would be a positive one for the town.
He said: “I am obviously disappointed about the outcome as I firmly believe this would have provided great opportunities for the community and the police to engage as policing moves forward.
“I also acknowledge the results of the consultation results, with community representatives being strongly against the move. I would like to thank those who became involved in the various groups and discussions and for showing their genuine interest in the way public services are delivered in the area, and their shared vision for Crieff, especially.
“Tayside Police will become part of Police Scotland on April 1 2013 and my focus will be on maintaining the highest possible standards of policing in South Section. I will, of course, remain alert to opportunities to enhance our service in the future.”
The Crieff Community Trust (CCT) had expressed “strong objections” to the planned relocation, claiming that the move out of the town centre could lead to crimes going unreported.
Secretary Dawn Griesbach thanked Tayside Police for considering the wishes of the community when taking its decision.
“We are very grateful to Tayside Police for hearing and respecting the views of the community,” she said. “We really do feel that the service the police provide to Crieff is a hugely important one.
“And we have no issue if the building is simply not right for Tayside Police, but we believed that the campus location was not right for the community.”
Ms Griesbach added: “We would prefer to see the police make an effort to improve the efficiency of their current offices, but if the police were to seriously consider another town centre location we would welcome that.”