A LABOUR MP and a police chief are meeting to review their battle plans in the fight to keep a town's police station open.

The future of Great Harwood police the station will be top of the agenda when Hyndburn MP Greg Pope meets Superintendent Malcolm Rawcliffe on Monday.

They have been fighting moves to downgrade it and close it either at night time or possibly all together.

Mr Pope, who used to be a Hyndburn councillor in Great Harwood, said: "I am confident that Great Harwood police station will remain open, but we shall be discussing it at the meeting."

They will also talk about a proposal to centralise the mini control and communication centre in most main Lancashire police stations in just a handful of locations.

This would involve the Great Harwood control being transferred to Burnley.

Mr Pope said: "I understand this policy is now being reviewed. I welcome that.

"How communications are arranged is primarily an operational matter for the police but we need to ensure that if someone rings 999 when they are in difficulties there is a swift response."

Mr Pope said he and Supt Rawcliffe would also discuss where the new beat bobbies recently awarded to Accrington were to be deployed., and the new community safety warden scheme in Accrington town centre.

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