MASTERPLAN blueprints are set to change after police snubbed proposals to build a brand new police station in the heart of future Blackpool.

The Masterplan -- introduced by Blackpool Borough Council in May this year -- aims to completely redevelop the area within the next 15 to 20 years in a bid to re-invent the resort as a world-class attraction for the 21st Century.

Under current proposals it is suggested that the new police headquarters should be built in a designated 'civic area' around Talbot Road.

The current police station, on Bonny Street, is part of area earmarked for a multi-million pound international conference centre.

Among the new centre's 'civic' neighbours would be Blackpool North train station and the town's Magistrates and County courts.

But -- in a recent report from the Lancashire Police Authority Resources Committee published on Wednesday, July 9 -- a meeting of the Property and Capital Panel (held on May 27), police commanders confirmed they would not be undertaking a move within the next five years.

They claim the proposed site is unsuitable for policing needs and suggest that current facilities should be spread over two sites, with one site acting as a police 'cop shop' and the other off-limits to the public.

According to the report: "The Authority has no proposals in its five-year Divisional Accommodation Strategy to relocate the present Western Divisional Headquarters at Bonny Street.

"The proposed location for a new police station in the designated civic area on Talbot Road at this stage does not appear to fulfil the Constabulary's future requirements for operational policing in Western Division.

"The Divisional Commanders preferred accommodation model would be a combined Divisional Headquarters, Custody Suite and operating centre in a location away from the town centre.

"This would be supported by a public access facility, interview rooms, together with possibly a base for town centre deployment of officers in Blackpool."

Blackpool Borough Council's Masterplan Co-ordinator and Head of Planning and Transportation -- Reg Haslam -- admitted he was not aware of the Police Authority decision.

But he says that changes to the Masterplan can be accommodated.

Mr Haslam said: "We were not aware of the committee decision, as far as we were concerned we are currently still in negotiations with the Police Authority over the proposed new station site.

"The original Masterplan proposed to move the current police station lock, stock and barrel to the designated civic area on Talbot Road close to the North Train Station.

"But the entire concept of a plan like this is to gauge reactions, talk through alternatives and, as such, update and review suggestions.

"It is a solution to us is to suggest a split site for the police, with one building being non public access police offices and the other a 'cop shop' type set-up for public contact."