MILLIONS of pounds of taxpayers' money will be wasted unless a quick decision is taken on a new police headquarters for the west of the country, the head of a force watchdog has warned.
Phil Braat, chairman of Strathclyde Police's governing body, has said the new national force that will come into being next year would pay an extra £7.5 million for a replacement for Glasgow's "no longer fit for purpose" Pitt Street HQ if a decision was left beyond the next few months.
As well as the 20% savings on VAT if a new local HQ was signed off by the outgoing Strathclyde Police Authority, Mr Braat has also warned that around £1m already spent on the new facility earmarked for Glasgow's east end is at risk if the new force fails to commit to it before the end of December.
In a letter sent to Steve House, chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland, Vic Emery, chairman of the new national Scottish Police Authority, and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, Mr Braat expresses "frustration" that the plans have not progressed.
He says keeping Pitt Street open is irrational, and highlights the savings that could be made if, during its last five months of existence, his organisation activated the plan for a new HQ.
Mr Braat will also meet Mr Emery in the coming weeks to press for the west of Scotland police hub to be located in Dalmarnock, Glasgow's east end district that is undergoing a major transformation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
The Herald also understands some leading political figures are lobbying for a new regional police headquarters to be located at the "crime campus" currently under construction at Gartcosh and due for completion in 2014.
According to the latest figures, Pitt Street costs £3.7m per year to run. Moving to a new purpose-built facility would save £1.35m annually. Groundworks have been completed, business cases prepared and tenders received, and the project is ready to go.
The scheme has had the continued support of Mr House, who has argued the need for a new regional or city headquarters.
But the project was mothballed after Mr MacAskill wrote to Strathclyde Police Authority's previous chairman late last year, indicating a new national body would wish to consider the merits of a new facility in the west of Scotland in a wider context.
Earlier this week, The Herald revealed scores of police offices face closures as the new force looks to save 20% from the £56m annual spend on buildings maintenance and running costs.
Mr Braat said: "Strathclyde Police Authority finds itself in the crazy position of maintaining a building that is no longer fit for purpose and haemorrhaging public money."
A Scottish Police Authority spokesman said that given the workload facing the body, it was unlikely to come to any conclusion in the weeks ahead on a Pitt Street replacement.
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