FRESH question marks have been placed over the future of the cells at Burnley Police Station.

Lancashire Police have admitted the long-term fate of the custody suite at the Parker Lane station is under review.

County Councillor Tony Martin has voiced concerns the move could trigger doubts over the future of the magistrates court and police station.

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Last October the cells at Burnley were temporarily closed and long-term sickness rates and staff and detainees welfare were cited as the main reasons.

The custody office has since been reopened and has been operational while a similar facility is upgraded in Preston.

Cllr Martin, who is also a councillor for Trinity ward on Burnley Council, said: “This is really the thin end of the wedge and I will be raising this issue with the police and crime commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

“People will be asking, without the custody suite, what is going to happen to Burnley Magistrates Court and the police station.

“This is just one piece of a jigsaw, including the crown court, and if you take one component away then where are you left?”

A police spokesman said: “Burnley custody suite was closed temporarily last year but is currently open while Preston custody suite is temporarily closed for an upgrade.

“It will close again when Preston reopens on Monday, February 20.

“It will need to open again to offer some resilience when Greenbank custody suite at Blackburn closes for a similar upgrade.

“The closure at Burnley was solely due to significant levels of long-term staff sickness and the constabulary having regard to both staff and detainee welfare.

“As with all policing functions, Burnley custody suite’s long-term future remains under review.”

Police bosses have said Greenbank is only a ‘short distance’ from Burnley and also has better facilities for staff and prisoners.

A number of Burnley policing functions, including CID, have relocated to Greenbank recently.