Ormskirk police station is one of ten across Lancashire which could shut their doors to the public from next January in a fresh round of cuts.

The shock news comes just 10 days after retiring Chief Constable Steve Finnigan spoke out saying cuts to his force had gone too far, making the public less safe.

But the last time the police tried to force the move, a local campaign masterminded by former Tory councillor David Sudworth saw the station remain open, mainly because of the number of students in the town. And on Radio Lancashire yesterday, Mo. Le Marinel of UNISON said that one of the public consultations which saw just three people use the public counter in Blackpool was held in the depths of winter to skew the force’s argument.

Ormskirk could join Leyland, Kirkham and Clitheroe in having the front counters shut; others, like Preston and Chorley, are set to have their opening hours reduced in an attempt to save £1.4m by 2020.

The plans are to be put up for public consultation, although the clear message from the force and Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner is that more savings will have to be made on top of the £72.2m already delivered since the Government’s austerity measures were first introduced.

“I want to reassure our communities this review will not change the way areas are policed,” said Commissioner Clive Grunshaw.

“Front counters are not staffed by police officers and this review will not impact on police numbers.

“Of course these changes are taking place as part of the way the Constabulary looks to manage the continuing cuts to its funding by Government.” Police say the number of people using front counters at stations across Lancashire is continuing to fall. In future people will have to report crimes by phone or online.

“In some stations as few as three people per day have visited on core business leaving, leaving the Constabulary with little option but to review the service,” said a statement from the force.

“This review will not result in any station closures, nor change the way areas are policed, but it will deliver £1.4m of the £19.8m in savings the police need to find by 2020.

“The proposals are based on detailed analysis of current use and are supported by a range of improvements to other contact methods such as telephone and online crime reporting.

“Now stakeholders and the public are being asked for their views on the proposals, but with a clear message that savings have to be delivered and the public demands on the Constabulary are no longer in stations, but out in the community and on the telephone.”