Press Release
1st May 2001
McNeil Expresses Disappointment over Inverkip Police Office Consultation to Justice Minister
MSP for Greenock & Inverclyde, Duncan McNeil, has raised his "disappointment" at the lack of public consultation over the future of the Inverkip Police Office with Justice Minister, Jim Wallace.
He has underlined local residents' anger that they have not been properly consulted and asks Mr Wallace what pressure he can put on the Joint Police Board to delay implementation of any recommendation until local people have had their say.
The Property Review Sub Group of the Strathclyde Joint Police Board has decided to press ahead with their recommendation that the Police Office be closed.
Mr McNeil told the Justice Minister:
"As the constituency MSP, I did receive a letter requesting my views. The Sub Group, however, neither acknowledged my response nor informed me of any public meetings to discuss the issue. Those public meetings which were arranged were repeatedly cancelled. It was ultimately left to the Community Council to organise what I understand to be the only meeting on the subject."
He later told the Telegraph:
"When I attended the recent public meeting in the village, residents expressed the view that the Review Group had simply come in with a preconceived idea of what the conclusion would be.
"Regardless of the outcome, it cannot be right to implement any decision until a clear, open consultation process has been carried out."
ENDS
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