A GREAT Harwood councillor wants to fight to keep a police presence in the town.

Last month, Lancashire Police said it would closing the Hesketh Street station in the town from Monday.

Cllr Noordad Aziz, who represents the Netherton ward on the council, said he wants to fight to protect resources which have decreased dramatically in the last five years.

Cllr Aziz said: “The closure of the police station is down to continued central government cuts that have put the future of Great Harwood police station and desk under threat.

“We need to fight for a continued visible police presence in the town.

“When I was elected, we had a strong team with two PCSOs as well as two officers, in addition to an inspector based out of the town.

“The neighbourhood team had time to get to know the community and build trust.

“Currently, we have a fraction of these resources and this impacts on cohesive working with the councillors and the community.”

Lancashire Police said they are no longer renewing the lease after taking a decision that the premises were ‘underutilised and no longer fit for purpose’.