Old police station to get new lease of life

THE green light has been given to turn the former police station in Kirkcudbright into a drop-in centre for young people with autism. The development of the High Street building will also include holiday accommodation, workshops, and a computer room It will be transformed by autism spectrum disorder charity Resonate: Creating Communities, who got the backing of councillors last week. The application was passed at a meeting in Dumfries despite eight objections from neighbouring residents. Elected members heard from applicant Catherine Phillips on her proposal for the site, which consists of a detached two-storey former police station, a detached mortuary, a block of five garages, and a garden. She wants to make a drop-in centre on the ground-floor of the old station, as well as a first-floor flat, and holiday accommodation unit in the cell block extension. The garages would house four workshops, while the old mortuary would become a computer room. Once finished, it would offer a safe space and provide informal support to young people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), whilst the flat is intended to provide specialist accommodation with support for four young people with ASD, but not for assisted living or care. Furthermore, the holiday lets would provide a means of income and financial support to the charity, whilst the workshop spaces are to be let to those with ASD and others, with each space to be tailored to a specific craft or trade, dependent on interest.