POLICE stations in Wivenhoe, Brightlingsea and West Mersea could close to cut costs.

Essex Police has unveiled plans to merge seven stations with fire stations and libraries.

An Essex Police Authority report has revealed seven sites shortlisted for the scheme – Brightlingsea, West Mersea, Wivenhoe, Ongar, Waltham Abbey, Saffron Walden and Stansted Mountfitchet.

The initiative follows a trial in Tiptree, where police officers moved into the village’s fire station.

The police authority’s programme will see if it can combine Essex County Council and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service facilities in the towns and villages with police stations.

Robert Chambers, chairman of Essex Police Authority, said: “The most important message to get across is we are maintaining the police presence.

“They might not be in the present police station, they might be in the fire station, or the fire service might move into the police station.

“It’s not all about making cuts, it’s about making best use of the property we have.

“We have got hundreds of properties and so have the other services “In this day and age that is crazy when we can work together to give the community a better service.”

The police authority said early indications showed closing the police station in Tiptree would save Essex Police at least £3,000 a year.

It could take up to two years before the station can be sold.

Essex Police launched the programme earlier this year to identify locations where services could be brought under one roof.

The three-month pilot scheme in Tiptree will be assessed at the end of October, but the police have already started an “early assessment” of other places it can merge stations.

Deputy Chief Constable Andy Bliss said: “I’m a firm believer our staff are at the heart of our organisation and our service to the public, not our buildings.

“As long as we are content we can continue to deliver the same high-quality service in any shared premises we will look to continue the roll-out of the initiative across Essex.

“We have a challenge ahead of us with the anticipated public sector budget cuts, and our priority is to maintain the same calibre of policing service.”

Campaigners want to keep services

CAMPAIGNERS have called for local police services to be maintained.

Alan Goggin, a town councillor in Brightlingsea, said the town was well served by the police and the fire service and he would not want to see services cut.

Brightlingsea is one of seven police stations which could be merged with fire stations and other local services.

He said: “We will be campaigning to make sure the merger of stations is not concealing further cuts to the service.

“I understand all Government departments are looking at every little saving and we have to be realistic.

“In Brightlingsea, the fire station is only about 100 yards away from the police station.

“We are well served by the police and the voluntary fire crews and it makes common sense if savings can be made by moving two departments into the same building.

“The end result is the most important aspect.”

Wivenhoe councillor Mark Cory said he did not want to see the town’s police station sold off.

He said: “I believe in community policing and in keeping a police station in the community.

“I have seen other examples where police stations have been removed and it has led to antisocial behaviour rising.”

John Bouckley, borough councillor for West Mersea, said he welcomed plans to move officers into the fire station if it meant the station was open to the public for longer.

The police station, in East Road, is currently only open to the public for two hours every Saturday.

Essex Police Authority said with the exception of large police stations very few of its buildings were open seven days a week The majority of the seven new sites would be based on the “Tiptree model”, which would see police stations close as the fire service requires space for fire engines and easy access routes.

Adam Eckley, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, said: “This is an excellent way of working closer with our partners.

“We are always looking to use our resources in the most efficient and effective way.”