Last updated at 19:59, Thursday, 22 December 2011

Maryport police station is to close and officers will be transferred to a new shared base at the town’s Mealpot Road fire station.

The Eaglesfield Street police station, which has been in the town for at least 150 years, will close in the next 12 months.

A decision has not yet been made about the future of the town’s police front counter service.

A Cumbria police spokesman this week revealed that a review of the county constabulary’s estate had concluded that the Maryport station was too big for operational needs.

It was also underused, with officers and PCSOs spending most of their time in the community rather than in the office.

It had therefore been decided that officers and PCSOs will relocate to shared accommodation at Maryport Fire Station, maintaining an operating base in the town.

This would save on annual running costs and generate income when the building is sold.

The move had been expected in Maryport but was confirmed on Wednesday as part of Cumbria Constabulary’s bid to save £20.3 million in the next five years.

Insp Mark Wear, of the Allerdale urban neighbourhood policing team, promised that the public would see no difference in Maryport’s frontline service.

He said that after a reorganisation of neighbourhood policing teams in February there had been successful operations to tackle drug crime and other major issues in the town.

If the counter service is removed, people will no longer be able to drop into the police station.

Insp Wear said most people preferred the anonymity of phoning or contacting police officers online.

Peter Kendall, Maryport mayor, said he would be very disappointed if front counter services went.

He added: “Coun Carol Tindall and I spoke to the police 12 months ago and were assured that services in Maryport would be maintained and even improved. The council needs to discuss these developments soon.”

Changes are also being made in Aspatria and Silloth, where police will get new operating bases in the two town fire stations. Officers currently cover the towns from Wigton police station

This means that there will be police offices in Aspatria and Silloth for the first time in many years, although they do use Aspatria Library to meet the public.

Keswick and Cockermouth police stations are also to be sold.

A new central base for the Allerdale rural neighbourhood policing team will be created in Cockermouth.

Keswick police will work from the town’s fire station.

The changes are expected to save approximately £119,000 a year in running costs.

First published at 19:21, Thursday, 22 December 2011
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk