Lisnaskea Police Station ‘being considered’ for upgrade

THE PSNI has said it is considering upgrading Lisnaskea Police Station, as part of a wider plan to modernise its estate.
Back in February, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council wrote to the policing service to asking it to consider “modernising the aesthetics” of the town-centre station.
The request came after the good news that work on the construction of the new health centre on the site of the old high school in the town, where the local Irish primary school, Bunscoil an Traonaigh, will also be relocating.
In response to the Council’s request, the PSNI confirmed it had “identified the need for redevelopment and modernisation of the PSNI estate as part of its service-wide Estate Strategy 2021 and Beyond.”
“The strategy identifies key pillars that include delivering modern facilities that are welcoming to the public,” said a PSNI spokesman.
They added the PSNI had finished a Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) that considered “the operational requirements for all our buildings in regards to the current and future service operating model of delivering policing for all our communities.”
They said this would be done “with a view to prioritising sites for enhancement, replacement, reconfiguration and/or divestment and rationalisation.”
“All changes to the PSNI estate are subject to the availability of funding and, as such, the timing and progress in realising the aims of the strategy are set in that context,” they added.
The spokesman confirmed Lisnaskea Police Station was being considered as part of the service-wide review.
They said the Council’s “comments in respect to wider regeneration opportunities and positive benefits that this may present for both the Council and the local community are acknowledged and welcomed and will be included as part of the review process.”
The news of the potential upgrade comes just months after the PSNI closed the public enquiry office at the Lisnaskea station, leaving Enniskillen the closest enquiry office for the community.
At the time the PSNI stressed the station would continue to operate as normal, and no officers would be lost.
The Lisnaskea enquiry office closure in July was one of 11 to close across the North, as part of a cost-cutting exercise by the force.
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and we are conscious there may be an actual or perceived loss of accessibility, visibility and ability to respond to the needs of the community,” said Assistant Chief Constable for Local Police, Bobby Singleton, at the time.
“However, the PSNI is facing unprecedented financial pressure and savings are necessary to deliver a sustainable and effective organisation.”