WORK on Blackburn's brand new £7.9million police station is expected to get under way some time this year.

The multi-million pound project was given the official seal of approval more than 12 months ago and money has been set aside in police budgets.

The cost will be split over the next three years and more than half the cash will come from central government.

Extra cash was also made available when the Government announced how much each police force would be allowed to spend at the end of last year.

Around £3.5million will be spent on the scheme over the next 12 months followed by £3.58million in each of the following two years.

Police chiefs say the Victorian building in Northgate is outdated and too cramped for their needs. The station is headquarters for one of the busiest divisions in Lancashire and is regularly filled to bursting.

Designs have been drawn up and include a purpose-built custody suite on the outskirts of Blackburn close to the motorway network, probably in Whitebirk.

Removal of the cell block and complete refurbishment of the Northgate building should lead to massive improvements for officers, staff and visitors.

A site for the new station has been picked out and negotiations over the sale of the land are at an advanced stage with Blackburn with Darwen Council.

It is hoped the new police station will be finished by next spring and the complete scheme by May, 2003.

Progress on the project will be discussed when the Lancashire police authority's property and capital sub-committee meet on Tuesday, January 11.

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