ANGRY councillors and residents of Calne have urged Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson to think again about closing the town's police station.

Mr Macpherson announced on Tuesday the Silver Street station is to close and police will use Calne Leisure Centre as a touchdown point from January 6.

In Pewsey, the police station will close and officers and staff will start using The Vale Community Campus in Pewsey as a touchdown point.

The situation in Pewsey is slightly different in that the new touchdown point is only three minutes away from the old police station and residents are not quite so concerned about its closure.

But in Calne, the announcement came as a shock to councillors and residents who have long campaigned to keep it open.

Cllr Glenis Ansell, chairman of Calne Community Safety Forum, said: "I was surprised to hear the Police and Crime Commissioner announced the closure of Calne Police Station during an unplanned visit to the Area Board.

"The announcement came as a shock to the meeting and to local police officers. The changes mean our officers will have no base from which to operate.

"They will continue to muster at Chippenham, increasing the number of unnecessary car journeys and the inherent travelling costs and more importantly, reducing their availability for deployment in Calne.

"Residents of Calne have campaigned long and hard to keep their police station open by means of a public meeting, letters of protest and a petition.

"Calne is growing at a rapid rate and although the police no longer supply crime figures; from the information available, crime appears to be rising.

"Calne Police Station is a valuable space and from the details contained in a Freedom of Information request it is clear that its running costs are minimal. The last precept increase requested by the Commissioner was to 'protect community policing'.

"Recently the effects of cuts in the police budget have been highlighted nationally and additional investment has been promised.

"Surely this the wrong time to push ahead with the proposed closure. Common sense suggests that it’s in everybody’s interests to wait - at least until after the general election - I urge the Commissioner to think again."

Mr Macpherson says the closures are part of plans to reduce the cost of the Wiltshire Police estate by 20 per cent by 2021.

He added: "Every pound we save on running our estate is a pound I will not have to save from policing.

“The opportunity for our officers and staff to use leisure centre facilities as a touchdown point will help to ensure that our officers remain visible and accessible within their communities.”