IT is hoped a ‘new, efficient replacement station’ will be built in Launceston, following the announcement of plans for the closure of 34 police stations and offices across Devon and Cornwall in the next five years.

In reference to Launceston specifically, on Twitter, Superintendent Ian Drummond-Smith wrote: “I can confirm we hope to build a new, efficient replacement station there.”

The Liberal Democrat Cornwall Councillor for Launceston South, Jade Farrington, responded to him, asking why a new station is needed or cost effective, and where it will be located, but Mr Drummond-Smith said no detail is ‘known yet’, as the closure of the current station and intended provision of a replacement station is planned for 2019-2020.

However, in another message on the social media site he added: “Speaking generally, large sites, old inefficient buildings… sometimes cost effective to sell sites and build modern and efficient buildings.”

The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Hogg said the Force is ‘striving’ to save tens of millions of pounds from its current budget, and that the closures or lease surrenders would make revenue savings of at least £1.053-million a year.

Referring to policing cuts, mayor of Launceston Cllr Brian Hogan told the Post: “Surely the police officers themselves don’t like the cuts that are being made. They themselves must be concerned, surely?

“They have got to be concerned that the public confidence in the police will be eroded even further. I can’t see that it won’t have a drastic impact on the town.

“As for asking the local community to accept rises in their council tax to fund the extent of these cuts to help out so the cuts won’t be so severe, I would have thought it would have to go to some sort of public consultation and again all these things come at a cost.

“I think the town has got a good working relationship with community beat officers, the community beat team and obviously if the police station was to close then there would be real worry about that side of the service, and where we would be going with that side of the service.

“To lose the police station, that would be a real concern for the town.”

The PCC is currently preparing to launch a public consultation about how much people would be prepared to pay towards policing through their council tax.

The chief constable is also planning to ask the public about the nature of policing delivery in the future.

Other planned police station and office closures include Callington in 2015/16, Holsworthy in 2016/17, Wadebridge in 2017/18 and Bude in 2018/19.

Current plans will instead see provision of a community base in council office at Callington, provision of a neighbourhood team or community base at Holsworthy, provision of neighbourhood team bases at Wadebridge and Bude, and provision of the replacement police station at Launceston, the replacement police station dependent on a review of custody provision in Cornwall.

Holsworthy’s mayor Cllr John Allen told the Post on Monday: “We are really disappointed with the indicated closure of Holsworthy and surrounding police stations. I feel it will put the community further at risk.

“We have a growing population, a lot of buildings are going up, there is a thriving indsutrial estate. We need police protection.

“On the news this morning the Home Secretary Theresa May said there will be no cut in frontline services. I hope she keeps to that statement.”

Cllr Allen had been speaking with assistant chief constable Paul Netherton ahead of the royal visit at Holsworthy Livestock Market.

Mr Netherton told the Post: “Over the last four years Devon and Cornwall Police has saved £50-million. However, we now face a further cut, which we estimate to be another £54-million.

“Our challenge is we still have to provide a policing service safeguarding the public and respond to incidents with less and less money and fewer staff. Obviously Devon and Cornwall Police is committed to local policing. Our challenge is how we do it with less money.

“We will be looking at all kind of opportunities to share premises to work with other emergency services in joint buildings, and we will continue to deliver the best service we can with the budget challenges we face.”

Bude town mayor Cllr Lea Deely said: “As Mayor of Bude-Stratton I am horrified to learn that there is a possibility that our police station may be closed. We have had to accept the front office closure but it has been a great reassurance to the people that the police have still been operating out of the station in Bude.

“Its closure, together with that of Holsworthy, Bideford and Launceston, will leave us very isolated. Removing police presence from the town will result in lack of local knowledge and increased response times.

“I am also concerned that this decision would also affect our town CCTV network which provides a link with the Street Pastors and the police and plays a significant role in keeping the town centre safe.”

Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “As a Force we face challenging budget reductions set by the government and the subsequent need to reduce our workforce over the next four years.

“It is only right that we review our estates and only keep those buildings that are not in need of significant modernisation and those needed to ensure we can continue to deliver a professional police service.

“We are planning for the future by dispensing with buildings which are costly in terms of maintenance while investing in newer and more efficient premises where needed.

“We are not removing ourselves from our communities, we are being more efficient and organised around where we base our people to ensure we continue to deliver the best service we can. Police officers and staff solve crime and keep our communities safe, not buildings.

“The vast majority of frontline officers already spend their time out in communities either responding to incidents or engaging with the public. Our police stations are primarily used as a base for officers to work where they can carry out administrative duties, receive briefings and access welfare and hygiene facilities.”