RURAL police stations across the county are to close as part of the constabulary’s efficiency drive after its budget was cut by government.

In total 18 police stations across Gloucestershire will be shut and sold off including Berkeley and Wotton-under-Edge, it was announced today.

With an £18 million budget reduction over four years the force was faced with having to identify where the money could be saved, whilst trying to maintain frontline policing. The chief constable of Gloucestershire Tony Melville said he could understand people’s fear that the closure of police stations might mean less police presence, but he believed the public would see an improvement in front line policing.

"I understand that people in Gloucestershire feel a certain level of reassurance in seeing a police building in their community but I can assure them that the closure of these buildings will not negatively impact on our presence in those communities.

"In fact, we are re-organising our resources to ensure that there are 15 per cent more police officers in visible roles across Gloucestershire. Selling buildings which cost us a lot of money to run and which do not in themselves provide policing is a vital step in making sure that we continue to have a very visible presence right at the very heart of the communities we police."

In Berkeley and Wotton the news was not welcomed but did not come as a shock. In Berkeley the town council has already arranged for a space to be made available for the local police officers in the town hall.

Meanwhile in Wotton there have been ongoing discussions about the police using a space in the library.