TISBURY’S police station is to close and be sold off as officers move into a new leisure centre in the village.

Wiltshire Police says the move into the Nadder Centre will save more than £16,000 a year in running costs and have no effect on the service that residents receive from the force.

It plans to use the centre as a ‘touch down’ point while patrolling in the village.

Police Commissioner Angus Macpherson said: “The closure of the old and under-used police station will generate capital and save thousands of pounds in annual running costs.”

He added: “Buildings don’t keep people safe from crime. It is the visibility of officers out in the community and their ability to respond quickly when needed that is important.”

Members of the West Wiltshire Community Policing Team (CPT) will have 24/7 access to the Nadder Centre and the use of a dedicated interview room for private meetings with the public when needed.

Inspector James Brain said: “These new surroundings will make it a more pleasant space for us to meet people for face-to-face consultations and for pre-arranged meetings with the public.

“Under our Community Policing model and with the investment in mobile technology, officers no longer need to return to a police station to do paperwork. They can now do that work and much more, whilst out and about.

“Our officers and PCSOs can now work in public places, whether a building like Wiltshire Council’s Nadder Centre, or even a coffee shop.”

The centre, called a health and wellbeing centre, was officially opened in March.

In the latest Police and Crime Plan, Mr Macpherson speaks of “disposing of sites that are no longer required for policing” and using the savings made “to close the financial gap and protect frontline services as far as possible”.

Both Wilton and Alderbury Police Stations could also be sold as Wiltshire Police looks to continue cutting costs.