A POLICE and Crime Commissioner has hit back at a parish council after refusing to respond to its concerns over proposals to close the force’s headquarters.

Thornton le Moor with Thornton le Street Parish Council chairman Ian Woods said Julia Mulligan had left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the area surrounding Newby Wiske, where the North Yorkshire Police HQ is based.

He wants Mrs Mulligan to provide answers to residents who work at the 17th century manor house, while other parishioners had raised concerns and about the future use of the site.

Coun Woods said: “The office of the police and crime commissioner is supposed to be transparent, but it is even worse than the old North Yorkshire Police Authority.

“It is so frustrating that the commissioner’s office has been deafening in its silence after we raised grave concerns over a month ago about plans to relocate the HQ away from Newby Wiske."

Mrs Mulligan said she had held talks with Thorton-le-Moor with Thorton-le-Street Parish Council and explained she was not in a position to comment publicly on the plans until its staff and officers had been made aware of the plans.

She said: “The councillors have either forgotten that police staff come first in this process, or feel their personal concerns are more important.

“It may be some of the comments made by the relevant councillors has something to do with the upcoming county council elections.

“Whatever their motive, I am sure they would agree that ensuring this process is done properly is paramount; speaking first to the relevant police staff and officers, and then the community more widely.”