PLANS to relocate Alloa Police services to Clackmannanshire Council's Kilncraigs building took another step forward recently.

Clacks Council will be leasing part of the first floor of the building, as well as areas on the ground floor, to Police Scotland.

Both the council and Police Scotland will be carrying out works to transform these spaces over the coming months with the aim of police relocating to Kilncraigs towards the end of 2021.

Police Scotland were due to take possession of those parts of Kilncraigs on Tuesday, June 1.

Council leader Ellen Forson said: "We welcome the contract being finalised and look forward to the project moving forward.

"This will enhance and strengthen the extensive working partnership that we already have in place with Police Scotland.

"It will deliver public services which meet the needs of our local communities in a more integrated way while also maintaining value for money."

A new public office will be created with a separate and self-contained police reception, secure police offices and a shared area for partnership working.

The agreement to relocate Alloa Police Station to Clackmannanshire Council Buildings at Kilncraigs in Alloa was approved by Clackmannanshire Council in October 2019 and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in February 2020; however, the timescale was impacted due to the pandemic.

Chief inspector Audrey Marsh, local area commander, added: "Co-locating alongside our key public service partners in shared facilities is part of Police Scotland's long term Estates Strategy.

"This will not only enable us to enhance service delivery through more cohesive multi-agency collaboration, but also reduce our carbon footprint and the long term costs of maintaining old police buildings.

"The move marks the start of an exciting new chapter for policing in Clackmannanshire.

"Having staff based at Kilncraigs will augment the existing relationship between both organisations and together we can integrate our services to better meet the needs of our diverse local communities.

"Myself and the team based at Alloa Police Station are looking forward to moving to our improved and more efficient work space at Kilncraigs, where our existing police reception, response and community policing functions will continue to be provided to the highest standards."