COUNCILLORS are calling for police officials to ‘come clean’ about planned police station closures.

Liberal democrat councillors are imploring Lancashire Police to address rumours of planned police station closures in Pendle.

Cllr Dorothy Lord said they have received a tip-off about the plans, which could see all existing police stations in Pendle closed and replaced with a new operational centre close to Junction 13 on the M65.

She said: “A very reliable source got in contact and informed us that all the existing police stations in Pendle could be closed and replaced with a centralised building.

“We are asking the police and the crime commissioner to be honest and tell us what is going to happen to the stations and with the buildings themselves.

“We pay for these services and have a right to know what is happening with them, it’s time for them to come clean.”

This comes following plans, outlined by Lancashire Police and Crime Commissioner (LPCC) Clive Grunshaw in June, to close front counters in Barnoldswick and Colne and cut the hours at the station in Nelson.

The proposals are due to come into force in January and are part of plans to shave £19.8million from the force’s budget in line with Government cuts by 2020.

Gordon Lishman, who stood as the Liberal Democrat candidate for Pendle at the General Election said: “We warned at the general election that more Conservative cuts would put local police stations at peril of closing.

“It seems our worst fears are coming true.”

Pendle Council have already expressed concerns that the closures and cuts will prevent people from being able to report problems or ask for help.

Cllr Lord said: “It is a great shame that we are going to lose these stations and with them the way crime is reported.

“Where will everyone go? Will it all be centralised in Blackburn or Burnley?

“Important resources are being moved further and not everyone will be able to keep up.

“What’s the town going to be like if we keep losing our local resources? What’s going to be left?”

The councillors are looking to LPCC Clive Grunshaw for an explanation, as all decisions related to the police estate must go through the commissioner’s office.

A spokesman for the office of the LPCC said: “There is not anything we can comment on at the moment.

“We have not had a formal business case come to the commissioner for a decision”