A police chief and council leader have shared their shock over a “terrible decision” after plans to demolish a former police radio mast were rejected.

Durham Constabulary applied to demolish the former radio mast after calculating that re-erection and maintenance would cost over £1million.

However, its bid was rejected by councillors on Durham County Council’s planning committee last week, with members keen to preserve the structure which they said holds architectural and historical significance.

Such is the importance of the structure locally that cllr Liz Brown said demolishing the mast would be “like knocking down Durham Cathedral”.

Read more: Council rejects police bid to demolish Durham mast

But the force says maintaining the mast will divert funding away from tackling crime and recruiting officers. And Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham and Darlington, Joy Allen, said the force is already struggling due to reduced funding and rising demand.

The Northern Echo: The mast during dismantling in 2017The mast during dismantling in 2017 (Image: TOM BANKS)

“This decision is frankly astonishing, particularly in the current financial climate,” PCC Allen said.

“At a time when every purse is stretched and when the public has just supported my plans to sustain police services through an increase in the council tax precept, the council demands that we use around £1m of public money to reinstate – and then maintain – a concrete structure that has no operational, commercial, sentimental or practical value. Comparing the mast to Durham Cathedral is nonsense. “

It had been agreed that the mast would be dismantled and then re-erected when the new Police Headquarters was built at Aykley Heads in 2014. However, the mast structure suffered unavoidable damage during dismantling. It has been covered in tarpaulin in a nearby fenced-off area ever since.

A representative for Durham police told the meeting that it could have to suspend recruitment of police community support officers (PCSO’s) to fund the mast.

PCC Allen added: ““I think people would rather have police officers and PCSOs than a redundant mass of damaged concrete. I most certainly would.”

The council’s decision has also received criticism from Darlington Council leader, Jonathan Dulston. He said: “Durham Constabulary face unprecedented challenges at the moment and this money could be used to put more police officers on the streets.

“I will be writing to the Chair of planning tomorrow to express my dismay at such a terrible decision.”

Read next: 

In response, Stephen Reed, planning development manager at Durham County Council, said: “The County Planning Committee carefully considered all the relevant issues raised by this proposal, including the case put forward by the constabulary to support its application. However, after full consideration of all the issues raised, the committee reached a view that these did not outweigh the heritage value of the mast and resolved to refuse the constabulary’s application to demolish it.

“Our officers would be happy to meet again with representatives of the constabulary to discuss this further.”