ORGANISATIONS are in talks about turning a redundant building in Kirkby Lonsdale into a permanent base for the town's new beat bobby, reports Ellis Butcher.

Coun Alan Day told a meeting of the parish council that discussions are under way about the possibility of part of the Centre 5 building being taken over by PC Ian Rowlinson. Coun Day said: "It would suit PC Ian Rowlinson so there's every possibility, a strong possibility, that it could happen if things can be agreed between Centre 5 and the police."

Centre 5 was once the town's central police office and still boasts a cell in the basement which, the meeting was told, could be turned into an office for PC Rowlinson.

The centre is currently used for meetings by Brownies, Guides, Cubs and Rainbow Brownies, and as a venue for aerobics and computer classes as well as a youth caf. It has been home to brass band rehearsals, an annual art exhibition and handbell ringer practice nights.

A local management committee has run the building for the past four years but now faces increased charges imposed by the building's owners, Cumbria County Council. The four-person committee has given notice that they intend to resign at the annual meeting on June 10, and warned that if a new committee did not come forward, Centre 5 would close.

Coun Day explained that he was keen that the situation be resolved. The town's policeman currently has to start his shift in Sedbergh, must take anyone arrested through to Kendal and has been occasionally using an upstairs room at The Institute after the town's former police station was sold off during a wave of closures in the late 1990s.

Coun Day said: "There is nowhere else in town if this failed. Centre 5 is big enough and PC Rowlinson is quite happy to be there. Police sergeants from the Constabulary have been down and would be prepared to spend some money on it."

Previously, the police and the authority had warned that they were looking for a "low-cost or no-cost" home, as they did not want to spend money on buildings if it meant officers not being out on the streets.

Coun Allan Muirhead said: "We are the victims of an appalling policy. This town spoke loud and long about the removal of the police station and we complained long and loud about selling off police houses. It is appalling he has to work out of the back of a van. It's abysmal and a blot on Cumbria Constabulary and the Police Authority."

Centre 5 Committee member Mrs Irene Hancock said: "We have run our course. It's time for others to take over. We have paid £1,400 a year maintenance fees, and are being asked for £500 for the last tax year and £750 for the current tax year.

"The market rent for Centre 5 is reckoned to be around £3,000 so we fear they will increase the charges each year until they reach that amount."

Divisional Superintendent Gary Horlacher said: "My first priority is to put community policemen on the beat in South Lakeland. The issue of accommodation is important, but secondary. I have no money locally to spend on accommodation; we have to find it from the central pot, but we can't afford to pay an economic rent. Discussions are going on at a local level and I'm confident that we will come up with something."