Anger at imminent closure of PSNI base
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Antrim Mayor Paul Michael has vented his anger at the imminent closure of the PSNI training camp in Antrim.
The mass exodus from the PSNI training camp in Antrim will get under way 'within days', police sources have confirmed.
The Mayor of Antrim has learned that Traffic Branch will be hitting the road on February 27 - with the Accident Investigation Unit, the dog handlers and the water cannon in close pursuit.
The decision to uproot services from Antrim is a double blow for the Council, which had ploughed thousands into an ill-fated attempt to take on the base when the Royal Irish Regiment marched into the sunset.
They were thwarted by the police, who pulled rank arguing that Antrim's central position made it a prime location for their regional hub. Now, however, with training moving to the new purpose built facility in Cookstown, and other services diverted to Larne and Ballymena, the sprawling site looks destined to follow Massereene Barracks, the Antrim Tech site and Ulster Bar Corner into ugly, unused dereliction.
Mayor Paul Michael said he is 'deeply concerned' by the 'undue haste' of the departure - and the implications for Antrim.
“A huge section of the M2 runs right through this Borough, but with the removal of Traffic Branch to Larne that will no longer receive the same attention it has in the past," he fumed.
“People will soon catch on to the fact that it's a free for all and they will be flying. The message being sent out here is when you reach Moneynick put your foot down because the chances of seeing a police car before Sandyknowes roundabout are very low.
“That's scandalous. Utterly scandalous."
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