Jackie Baillie, Helensburgh and Lomond’s MSP has called on Police Scotland to keep its promises about opening hours at after a concerned resident got in touch to complain that the East King Street office is becoming a ‘ghost station’.

The latest opening hours for Helensburgh Police Station were published in March last year following a Scotland-wide programme of cutbacks which led to the closure of police stations in Alexandria and Garelochhead.

Ms Baillie said that people deserve a police force which is ‘easily contactable’ and that ‘promises made are now being ignored’.

The East King Street office should be open on Monday to Thursday from 9am–7pm and 12-10pm Friday to Sunday.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said the police station had been closed due to ‘extenuating circumstances and operational demands’.

However one Helensburgh resident, who lives near the station, said that it was regularly closed during its advertised opening hours, including all weekend from Friday, April 10.

He told the Advertiser that it was ‘shocking’ the police station was closed regularly when it should be open.

He said: “The guidelines are not clear enough, they should advertise if they are going to be closed on certain days.” Chief Superintendent Helen Swann told the Advertiser the decision to close the front counter ‘is not one which is taken lightly’ and would only be done as ‘a last resort’.

She said: “We acknowledge that in recent weeks in Helensburgh, there have been occasions where there have been short term closures of the police office during the day.

“These have been due to extenuating circumstances and operational demands. The decision to close the front counter out with the published times is not one which is taken lightly and is a last resort.

“Members of the public were still able to contact police on other methods during these closures, including dialling 101 or 999. Officers who are on duty are continually aware of developing incidents in their local area, through the use of personal radios.

“I would like to reassure the local community of Helensburgh, of our commitment to policing the area, and we are grateful for their support.” However, Ms Baillie added: “People in Helensburgh deserve a police force which is easily contactable and rooted in the community it serves.

“It is unacceptable that so soon after cutting back on police station opening hours, promises made are now being ignored.

“Given the context of the planned merger of K and L Division with the removal of the headquarters to Paisley, Police Scotland must set out a plan to maintain access to police stations