THE FUTURE of Marlborough’s police station is once again in doubt after plans for officers to use other buildings instead were announced.

Marlborough is among 10 police stations in Wiltshire due to close once temporary ‘touch-down’ meeting points are found, to save on running costs of the current George Lane station.

The Police and Crime Commissioner’s annual estate strategy labelled the building ‘under-used’ and ‘approaching its end of life’.

Now sites such as the refurbished youth centre in St Margaret’s Mead and the fire station have been outlined as possible sites for the police to move into.

Lisa Farrell, of Angel Yard, opposed the closure of the station and said: “The police station should stay open and on that site. It’s not that old and it could be shared with another group, the fire brigade or the ambulance service, for example.

“The youth centre wouldn’t work as a touch-down point because they would need another interview room and more provision there. Young people need the space to be young individuals where they can go and feel the space is for them. To have youths and police in one building isn’t going to work.”

Val Compton, of Kennet Place, said: “They try to say police don’t need a base because police are out on the streets, but in reality that doesn’t work.

“It is unfortunate that they can’t hang on and make this relatively new building work. Combining 999 services there makes sense and could work.”

Following a meeting between Cllr Stewart Dobson and PCC Angus Macpherson, Cllr Dobson was hopeful the police station would remain open until a suitable alternative could be found.

Cllr Dobson said: “Mr Macpherson has said it won’t be closed until a facility somewhere else in the town was found.

“One that was suggested was the youth centre, which would hopefully make an ideal place to be used by police.”

A spokesman for the town council said: “The police commissioner has made a commitment to Marlborough that there will still be a police presence in the town.

“The council wants to be closely involved in the decision about what will happen to the building and land it is on.

“We have requested to know the size of the land to make sure this is incorporated into the Neighbourhood Plan and we have a say in how the site will be developed.

“It is public, not private, land and we want to make sure it is used for the benefit of the town.”

The police station is open Tuesdays and Thursday from 9am to 5pm and Wednesday from 9am to 12.30pm.