TIME is running out for you to have your say on proposals which could see Cowdenbeath’s police station opening hours reduced with no weekend cover.

The Times told you in November 2021 that Police Scotland was assessing whether counter opening times across Fife should be amended.

A public consultation was then launched in November last year and ends on January 30, and it has been proposed that hours should be slashed at Cowdenbeath from 7am to Midnight seven days a week, to just 9am to 5pm between Monday and Friday.

The counter at Dunfermline police station may also change from its current 24 hours a day service, to 8am to Midnight daily.

Furthermore, the Dalgety Bay counter may close permanently after initially being open from 9am to 5pm (Mon-Fri).

When the Times first reported on the alleged move, two Cowdenbeath councillors stated their deep disappointment over the proposals.

Cllr Alex Campbell had commented: “It’s just cuts, cut, cuts. It’s extremely disappointing to hear that Cowdenbeath police station could be open to the public for even less hours with no weekend cover.

“It’s not acceptable that Police Scotland has been cut to these levels. I’m most concerned about no public hours at the weekend when you have the football and stock cars (at Central Park) on.”

Cllr Darren Watt had also stated: “It’s so disappointing to hear as a lot of people still like face-to-face contact with police officers.

“It will be deeply disappointing for the community as it means the service is even more inaccessible then it it currently is already.

“A lot of the time the police don’t seem to be aware of an incident but when the community can not get through to them, is it any wonder that people don’t report?”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The way people contact the police has changed a great deal over the years. People are using our public counters less.

“More people are now using other ways to contact the police, such as by telephone or online.

“This is happening in other places too as society changes, and is not unique to Fife or Scotland.

“Fife Division has reviewed the opening hours of our public counters, with a view to ensuring these meet your expectations and needs, whilst making best use of our finite resources. As a result, we are now running this public consultation.

“The aim is to gather a full range of information to inform any decision to implement change to public counter provision in Fife.”

To have your say on the proposals, please visit: https://consult.scotland.police.uk/fife/public-counter-opening-hours-fife-division/