Finchley Police Station will not reopen until March 2003 at the earliest, due to budgeting problems.

Work on the £1.7million refurbishment was due to start at the end of this year, but the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) has already used its capital budget for this financial year.

It says this is because it has had to pay contractors who have unexpectedly completed their work ahead of schedule.

The refurbishment work, including the installation of lifts and refitting of the entire building, cannot now begin until March next year at the earliest. It is expected to take 12 months.

These budgeting problems are unrelated to the MPA's problems with financing the extra policing in London in the wake of September 11 which comes out of a different budget.

An insider said: "It's a scandal frankly. They're bad at budgeting and bad at managing and monitoring budgets. It's nothing to do with the extra policing. That's now going to be the excuse for everything."

Barnet Police will continue to operate its front counter office from cabins outside the Ballards Lane station until the station reopens.

Chief Superintendent Sue Akers said: "The conditions are less than satisfactory for the staff working in there and people visiting, but I'm not aware of a groundswell of opinion that's reacted adversely to that.

An MPA committee will meet on November 19 to discuss the plans for the refurbishment drawn up by their preferred contractors, who have not yet been named.

October 24, 2001 17:18

LEIGH COLLINS