Council criticises town centre police station closure

A decision to shut down a town centre police station has been criticised by the Royal Borough.

The office, in the Rotunda, near Sainsbury’s in Providence Place, will close early next month.

The move will leave Maidenhead Police Station in Bath Road as the nearest station to the Town Centre.

The town’s Conservative group describes the Bath Road station as 'far more inaccessible and distant' than the Rotunda office.

Borough council leader David Burbage (Con, Bray) has condemned the move.

He said: "This is an unwelcome step. The Thames Valley Police should surely be promoting and increasing their physical presence in Maidenhead Town Centre, not retreating away from it."

He added that the Rotunda office has been 'poorly utilised' and asked Thames Valley Police to reconsider the move.

Cllr Carwyn Cox, cabinet member for community safety, said the council is 'bitterly disappointed' about the 'unnecessary' closure, which he says is a 'step in the wrong direction'.

He added: "We have actively worked towards making it easier for residents and visitors throughout the borough to access the police."