Muir of Ord police station in Ross-shire set to be sold
A ROSS-SHIRE police station has officially been declared surplus to requirements and will be put on the market for sale.
The currently vacant Muir of Ord police station is amongst two in the Highlands and Islands approved for disposal.
The other is Brae police station on mainland Shetland and both closures follow public consultation.
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Police Scotland announced last December proposals to close police stations across the country as part of their estate transformation strategy.
Public consultation was launched both at a local level and nationally through an online Engagement Hub.
The consultation on the future of Muir of Ord was opened on December 14, 2023 and concluded February 18, 2024. In total there were four respondents.
Highland and Islands Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Robert Shepherd, said: “Muir of Ord and Brae stations were built in the 1960s and 1970s in an age when the road network and transport options were not as advanced as they are now.
“With advances and investment in digital technology and the quality of our vehicle fleet, officers are no longer tied to working from police buildings in a particular area.
“Officers can complete their reports and paperwork directly on their mobile devices without the need to return to the office.
“The officers based at Dingwall and Lerwick therefore spend more of their time out in their local communities dealing with calls and helping the public.
“Muir of Ord has not served a purpose in policing the area for some time. It has not been used by local policing officers for over three years since Dingwall became the main response hub for the area. Since then, the building has only been used occasionally by some support functions.”
He said: “I realise that for many, the physical presence of a police station has provided reassurance and confidence to the local community over the years. However, our presence in communities is not defined by buildings but by the officers and staff who work in the area.
“Operational police officers have not been stationed in these buildings for some time and they have continued to incur running costs and ongoing repairs and maintenance.”
And he said while two are being disposed of, others are being invested in. The force has also upgraded existing housing and invested in new housing for local officers in Shetland, Orkney, Gairloch, Glencoe and Strontian.
He said: “Officers working in remote and rural locations play an integral part in community life and it is vital we support them to remain or relocate to these areas. The Police Scotland housing strategy sets out how we are providing modern, fit for purpose accommodation which is environmentally sustainable, and which provides best value to our officers and the public.
“Officers will continue to actively patrol the local areas, as they have been doing successfully for the last few years. We are committed to maintaining a strong presence and ensuring the safety of the community.”
