A CASH-STRAPPED police force’s plans to splash out £14m on a new headquarters only yards from its current base are facing mounting criticism.

Durham Police’s hopes of replacing its Sixties-built Aykley Heads headquarters, in Durham City, with a threestorey pavilion across the road have been questioned by rank-and-file officers, conservationists and campaigners.

When the scheme was unveiled, earlier this week, force chiefs said their present headquarters was no longer fit for purpose, with extremely high running and maintenance costs, and the new building, designed to the highest green credentials, would bring savings of £750,000 a year.

However, PC Andy Metcalfe, secretary of Durham Police Federation, said: “It seems a bit strange to be planning and building headquarters when we’re looking at losing police officers and saving 20 per cent from our budget.

“There are problems with the current headquarters.

“It’s looking tired. But whether a brand new, building – on green belt land 200 yards away from the existing building – is the answer, I don’t know. It would seem a strange thing in the current financial climate to be looking at wholesale changes to our headquarters.”

Kirsty Thomas, from the Durham Green Belt campaign, which is fighting to save the city’s open spaces, said the police’s plans were premature, as Durham County Council is still consulting on major changes to Aykley Heads, proposed under its County Durham Plan. She said: “I feel it’s quite out of order to be planning part of a new police headquarters on green belt land at this stage.

It’s against national policy that states green belt should be protected unless there are exceptional circumstances.

“We are living in a period of austerity and I can’t see why the police can’t continue in their existing headquarters.

We’re very upset about this proposal.”

Emma Boon, campaign director for the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers will need assurance that an expensive new building just yards away is the best value alternative.

“Locals in Durham will want to know their money is being spent on fighting crime, not on office furniture.”

A consultation roadshow begins at Darlington Town Hall today, from 5pm to 7pm.

Further events are planned until October 31.

For further details, visit durham-pa.gov.uk