THE CAMPAIGN to convert a historic police station into a heritage centre has been granted a glimmer of hope after councillors voted for more time on the proposal.

Campaigners calling for six months to pull together a plan to convert the Portslade Police Station in St Andrews Road into a heritage centre have been given at least another month following a city council meeting.

However the campaign divided councillors with policy and resources chairman Jason Kitcat and housing committee chairman Bill Randall both calling for work on a proposed house conversion on the site to begin.

At the meeting today, Conservative group leader Geoffrey Theobald called for a six month period to allow a full business plan to be drawn up for the heritage site which has also been supported by Labour Portslade councillors Alan Robins, Les Hamilton and Penny Gilbey.

But under committee rules, the motion could only call on council officers to provide a new report which could be returned within a month.

Councillor Kitcat said that planning permission for a four-bedroom on the site had taken two years to achieve and that a six month waiting period had already been granted at a previous meeting.

He said he saw no evidence that campaigners had funding for the project while there was no council capital funds for the refurbishment or revenue funds for annual running.

Councillor Randall added: “If it is a choice between heritage and housing, I have to come down on the side of housing.

“We have a duty to the people who don’t have good homes.”