Burnham and Highbridge’s police station is set to close next year. No date has been given but the office on Burnham Road will close as part of cuts to the Police Force budget although the police insist they will not be leaving the town.

The news has sparked concern among residents who fear the move will send out the wrong signals to trouble makers and criminals. Tony Lynham who stood as an independent in the elections in May and lives in Highbridge said with the closure of Cheddar police station the area covered by the police is huge covering as it does Shipham, Brean and Wedmore.

He said: “If there’s trouble in the summer with a big fight for instance at Brean or Shipham then the police would have to take a couple of cars to the incident and then take the culprits all the way to Bridgwater if the new office don’t have a cell.”

Cllr John Parkes of Highbridge said residents were worried about the closure saying there was an issue over detaining suspects and interviewing witnesses. The idea of having to transfer suspects to Bridgwater was impractical he said and questioned the idea that has been floated that the police would have an office at the fire station.

However the Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) Sue Mountstevens moved to reassure residents they would be creating a new station in the town. She told the Weekly News: “Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: "Local people continually bring to my attention the importance of having a visible policing presence in the area, so I am fully aware of their feelings on this development. Burnham-on-Sea Police Station is oversized and underutilised and with staff now based in the Bridgwater police centre, it is no longer cost-effective to keep this facility.

"The Constabulary and I have always been clear about our commitment to ensuring a policing footprint in the local community and a new station nearby will maintain that visible policing presence. In order to achieve the further savings required over the coming years, we have to be smart with our assets in order for us to meet the needs of local communities, police staff and operational policing."

MP James Heappey said: “I was concerning to hear that Burnham Police Station is due to close. Whatever the argument about maintaining operational capability, there is something reassuring about knowing that the police have a permanent presence in the town. I fully understand the fears of those concerned about the loss of the station.”

“The Police & Crime Commissioner has assured me that the operational presence of police in the town will be undiminished and that the support that they need will be adequately provided by their new base at the fire station. Insomuch as this is an operational decision for the police, I defer to their judgement but the community in Burnham and Highbridge will be watching closely to see that we continue to be well served by regular and visible policing.”

A spokesperson for the town council said they understood the police were having to “cover budget holes” and would support them in any way they could. The councillors would be keeping a close eye on proceedings the spokesperson said and would hold them to their promise that they would keep a presence in the town.

Residents in the Burnham Road area near Highbridge also voiced concerns over the site of the current station. Their worries are to do with any possible redevelopment of the building.

Do you think the police station should close? Are there enough police officers in Highbridge and Burnham? Your views please to harry.mottram@nqsw.co.uk