RESIDENTS are furious after suffering several sleepless nights because of a burglar alarm persistently going off at Barnard Castle’s abandoned police station.
The faulty alarm at Bede Kirk was connected to a building formerly occupied by Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team.
Police, fell rescue, ambulance and fire services in the town moved to a new 999 hub in Wilson Street last year.
The fell rescue team has since apologised for the problem, but questions are being asked about why police did not respond soon enough to complaints or inform the rescue team of the problem.
Sophie Ebeling, who lives nearby, said the alarm first went off about six weeks ago, and it took several hours before it was turned off.
She said: “It was not a great response – it went on and on. We heard from the neighbours that the police had lost the key so they had to break into their own station to switch it off.”
The latest incident started on Tuesday, October 23.
Ms Ebeling said: “You can’t sleep with the window open because it is unbearable. It is really a hazard, especially for those living closer by. It really bothered the neighbourhood.”
She added that she had contacted the police but the alarm was still ringing on Wednesday.
A police spokesperson confirmed they are aware of the problem.
The spokesperson said: “Officers attended last night (October 24) and found the premises to be in order so it is believed that the alarm is faulty. The contractors of the building are on their way to look at the alarm.”
It later emerged that the alarm was attached to the fell rescue team’s building which forms part of the old police station complex.
Fell rescue team leader Steve Owers became aware of the problem late on Thursday afternoon, October 25.
Mr Owers apologised, saying: “It is our alarm – it is our responsibility.
“I can understand their position totally because I wouldn’t want an alarm going off.”
He provided a telephone number for neighbours to contact should the alarm go off again.
Ms Ebeling said the alarm was eventually turned of that night after her partner visited the emergency hub in Wilson Street and spoke to officers.
She still questions why police did not tell the fell rescue members about the problem.
She said: “It is a hub, so is the hub not buzzing? The police should have passed on the message.”
Ms Ebeling suggested the alarm should be turned off since no one responds to it anyway.
