A COUNCILLOR has demanded action to bring derelict former police homes back into use as social housing.

Located behind the town’s police station, Fairfield was built around 50 years ago, originally to house serving police officers and their families.

The dozen properties were later let out as social housing, but in 2015, tenants were asked to leave over a three-year period.

It was part of a plan by Vera Baird, the then Northumbria police and crime commissioner, to sell the homes to release more funds for the police, and by 2017, most of the tenants had gone.

It is understood two of the homes remain occupied, but the remaining 10 have been boarded up and left derelict ever since.

Last June, the current police and crime commissioner, Kim McGuinness said she was in talks with Northumberland County Council and the North of Tyne Combined Authority over the future of Fairfield. Ms McGuinness said she wanted to bring them back to use as good quality housing stock serving a social purpose.

But with no visible changes on site over the past six months, Coun. Derek Kennedy, who represents Hexham West on Northumberland County Council, has called for action.

He said: "They are boarded up and decaying. It is a complete waste. With some refurbishment these 10 empty homes would be a welcome addition to the housing stock of the town.

"We have what could be perfectly good homes in a prime spot behind the police station."

Coun. Kennedy said he had asked both council and the police commissioner to come up with a suitable scheme. Both parties have been contacted for comment.