POLICE in Accrington could be based at a new station by 2012.

Plans to move more than 100 police staff and officers housed at the current site at Spring Gardens to a new building have been approved by Lancashire Police Authority.

A total of £2.25m has been earmarked in the force’s capital spending programme to be used to purchase a base and make it fit for purpose.

With the authority setting out its new five-year budget yest-erday, £750,000 has been set aside for 2010/11 and a further £1.5m for 2011/12.

David Brindle, director of resources for Lancashire Con-stabulary, said that the current police station, a Grade II listed building, was ‘no longer fit for purpose’. It requires ‘extensive and expensive refurbishment works’ including rewiring, a new heating system, repla-cement roof, replacement windows, external fabric rep-airs and internal remodelling.

The refurbishment costs of between £1.5m and £1.75m, plus fees, charges and costs are regarded as less cost-effective than a replacement station.

Mr Brindle described cash being spent on costly main-tenance as ‘dead money’.

“We are in the process of finding an appropriate site. We have locations in mind but cannot say where yet because then we find the price increases.

“It will likely be a second-hand building on a brownfield site, such as the new police station at Waterfoot.

“The force has a number of joint ventures with local authorities which provide really good services.

"This is another possibility.”

Hyndburn Geographic Inspector David Mangan said it was a ‘necessary move’.