More than £1million has been wasted on a failed plan to vacate an ageing police base in Gloucester in favour of building new offices.
The plan to shut Bearland and build a new base in its place in Eastern Avenue was first proposed by the old Gloucestershire Police Authority, but has now been discarded as too expensive.
Despite that, it cost £1,131,785 before the doomed plan was halted, a Freedom of Information request has revealed - the equivalent of more than 50 police constables' annual salary.
Costs include £900,000 for the purchase of the Eastern Avenue site and £134,500.46 to demolish the fire station which once stood there.
More than £97,000 was spent on other costs including £30,000 for 24/7 security at the site and £40,000 in solicitors fees.
The Taxpayers' Alliance branded it an "appalling waste of taxpayers' money".
Chief executive Jonathan Isaby said: "The only saving grace is that even more cash wasn't frittered away.
"With budgets especially tight right now, it's crucial to ensure that every single penny goes towards frontline services, and that means keeping police on the beat in local communities stopping and preventing crime."
The former Police Authority approved the acquisition in May 2012 despite Bearland being leased to the police by Gloucestershire County Council at a peppercorn £1 a year rent.
The move was thought to be well advanced, with details as fine as how many lockers were to be installed all but finalised, according to some police officers.
But the plan, which would have cost £3.4million in total and would have seen the new station virtually finished by now, was scrapped in December by Gloucestershire Constabulary and Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl.
He said the proposal was not affordable and may have led to the closure of Barton Street police station.
Mr Surl said: "I reviewed the proposal soon after I took office and it became clear it was never going to be affordable – especially in the current economic climate with the likelihood of the police having to cut millions more from their budget in the next few years.
"Remaining at Bearland provided much better value for money for the taxpayer.
"Keeping Barton Street and maximising its potential at the heart of Gloucester's most diverse community is a far better option operationally and financially.
"Apart from the cost of buying the site, which was incurred before I was elected, the only money spent on Eastern Avenue since has been on security and necessary surveys, searches and inquiries. Eastern Avenue is a valuable brownfield site which we still own. It remains an investment and I see no point in making an unnecessarily hasty decision on its future."
THE COSTS
Cost of Eastern Avenue site £900,000
Cost of demolition £134,500.46
Asbestos survey £720.00
Transport and flood assessment £2,750.00
Topographical survey £925.00
24/7 security of site £30,177.00
Desk study and ground investigation £4,649.02
Architectural study £1,250.00
Planning advice £16,221.25
Solicitors £40,542.39
Environment Agency £50.00
Total: £1,131, 785.12
