Cumbria Police to share Sedbergh fire station

Police in a Cumbrian town are to move into their neighbouring fire station to cut costs.

The Sedbergh police station will close and officers will move into the fire station next door on 20 September.

The force, which needs to trim £18.7m from its budget by 2015, has introduced cost-cutting measures.

A Cumbria Police spokesman said services would not be affected by the move. The fire service said the move would also save it money.

'Tough times'

Cumbria Police spokesman Insp John Stephens said: "With both emergency resources sharing the facilities of one building, the costs will be a reduction for both organisations and the policing and fire service in Sedbergh will not be affected.

"We are only moving next door, so the people of Sedbergh won't notice a difference in the quality of policing service they receive.

"Sedbergh is a low-crime area, and by maintaining the presence of police officers and PCSOs [police community support officers] in the town, we can keep it that way."

William Wyllie, spokesman for the Cumbria County Council Fire and Rescue Service, said: "We are delighted to host the police in Sedbergh and look forward to the benefits that will come from a closer working relationship at the same time as reducing costs.

"These are tough times for all emergency services and by looking at how we can all work together to provide the services communities need - and yet make essential savings makes real sense."