GLOUCESTER'S new police station could cost up to £3.4million.
But the force base on the site of the old fire station, in Eastern Avenue, which was torn down this week will offer major advantages over the tired Bearland building, says a city leader.
Gloucestershire County Council rents the Bearland station to the force for a peppercorn £1 a year and it costs around £250,000 a year to run.
City councillor Lise Noakes, who represents the Barnwood ward where the new station will be built, said it's important the force retains a city centre presence but Bearland is well past its best.
"It does seem like a large sum but the building should last for many years and be more cost effective than staying at Bearland," said Mrs Noakes.
"I have been taken on a tour of Bearland and it's very outdated. I know that because of the layout of the building more staff have to be used to manage the cells and staffing is one of the biggest costs."
The constabulary paid the county council £900,000 for the Eastern Avenue site, and has provisionally set aside £2.5million in an outline business case.
That was set in motion before Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl was elected last November.
Plans for the new station are at a very early stage but cells there seem unlikely.
Last week Mr Surl approved plans for a 50-cell custody suite next to Gloucestershire Constabulary's headquarters at Waterwells, to replace outdated cells in Cheltenham, Bearland and Stroud. Money is expected to be recouped by the sale of the force's Lansdown Road, Cheltenham site.
Mr Surl has said it's time to put the Bearland station "out of its misery" but the force will retain a presence in the city centre.
A 250-year lease on Bearland was taken out in 1996 by the force and formal notice has not yet been given to the council.
