PLANS to relocate Haddington Police Station into the former court building in the town at a cost of up to £1.4million are to be presented to the Scottish Police Authority.

East Lothian Council has been in talks with Police Scotland about co-locating police officers and civilian staff into the former courthouse along with community wardens and other associated council teams.

If approved, the police would relocate 300ft along Court Street from the station building into the courthouse.

A police reception desk would be installed across from council service desks at the established council entrance to the building.

It is anticipated the police would take over the first floor of the building where the former sheriff courts and clerk offices were based.

At a meeting of East Lothian Council’s cabinet on Tuesday, it was agreed to approve the joint move in principle.

A business case will now be drawn up to be presented to the Scottish Police Authority’s finance committee before a final plan is presented to authority chiefs in December.

Police Scotland would rent the offices from East Lothian Council, who took over the courts building after the Scottish Government shut the courts at the end of January last year.

A joint agreement, signed by the council chief executive Angela Leitch and divisional commander for the Lothians and Scottish Borders, Chief Superintendent Ivor Marshall, pledging to increase partnership working to further improve local services, was also presented to the cabinet.

Councillor Willie Innes, council leader, said: “The loss of the sheriff courts in Haddington has resulted in considerable accommodation space left vacant in the front of East Lothian Council’s John Muir House.

“I have no doubt this will lead to an improvement of services and closer collaboration between the council and police and will be good for the public.”

The proposal was welcomed by all parties at the meeting in the Town House, on Tuesday, although SNP opposition party leader Councillor Stuart Currie expressed reservations over whether it would be the start of police looking to close other stations in the county.

However he said: “If we are able to work together with the police and it makes financial sense then who would not want that.”

Chief Inspector Matt Paden, local area commander for East Lothian, said: “We are committed to working closely with all our relevant partners to ensure we can all provide the highest level of service to the public as efficiently as possible.

“Joint facilities are proven to be the best way to deliver this, and we will be consulting with those who use and contribute to our services to ensure that we get the best from any new partnership premises.

“Any potential move from Haddington Police Station will have no impact on the level of local policing we provide in the area. We will continue to be a visible and engaging presence within the community.”

The former courts building needs an estimated £650,000 to bring it up to minimum building standards and it is estimated costs of creating a modern office for the new tenants could double that.

Police Scotland said it would be consulting with the public over the proposals