WORK on the controversial new police custody suite in Salfords is under way.
The 24-cell building on the IO Industrial Estate will take over from the current cells at Reigate Police Station, which were described by Surrey Police as "no longer fit for purpose".
During a meeting between Surrey Police and Salfords and Sidlow Parish Council last month it was announced the cells should be completed in September ahead of a "go live" date of October 22.
It means the suite – which is more than £3 million over budget – will miss its original target launch date of this summer.
The parish council originally opposed the plan, but chairman Dave Brown said: "We have formed a good relationship with the police during this process and now we have to get on with life.
"We will continue to do the best we can and make sure we are as suitably informed as we can be."
Work was set to begin in December but was delayed while police assessed the scheme's financial viability in the face of soaring building costs. Further delays were brought about by changing building regulations and the installation of the new Police and Crime Commissioner.
Work to install drainage began on March 25, and the build will get fully under way in May.
As agreed, work will be carried out between 8am and 6pm from Monday to Friday and contractors Mace have pledged to cause as little disruption as possible to businesses on the estate.
Neighbourhood Inspector Richard Haycock has often reaffirmed the importance of a new custody facility in the area.
He told the Mirror: "It has long been the case that the custody facility at Reigate is just not enough. An alternative had to be found in order for us to be able to do the business we need to do to serve the community in the way the community would expect."
Plans for a 30-cell suite on the Salbrook Road industrial estate were thrown out in June 2010 and the smaller 24-cell plan was approved on appeal a year later.
Surrey Police hopes the build will be completed on September 23 to allow for a month's training and moving before the scheduled launch date.
A public open day is also planned, though a date has not been announced.
