FERNDOWN police station will be sold and enquiry desks closed as part of ongoing efforts to slash £9.5 million from the force’s budget in the next two years.

The changes were officially announced today, Friday, September 18, as the result of an extensive review of Dorset Police’s estates, which began in 2010, as well as a 12-month consultation, and are expected to save an estimated £700,000.

Counter service provision is being reduced from 15 to nine locations, with four fulltime enquiry offices remaining in Bournemouth, Poole, Weymouth and Bridport.

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Blandford, Gillingham and Sherborne will alternate opening two days each per week, with Swanage and Winfrith operating a ‘sign posting’ facility whereby staff help members of the public with their enquiries by directing them to relevant services.

Millions will need to be saved by 2015 because of continued reductions in central government funding Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said: “This decision has been one of the most challenging faced by Dorset Police in recent memory and, needless to say, it is not one that has been taken lightly.”

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He added: “I know that six front office counters are six too many, but we have to meet our cuts somewhere when we are losing 20 per cent of our budget.”

Boscombe’s enquiry desk has been closed since 2012. Verwood and Wimborne have been temporarily closed since May and June 2014 respectively and will not re-open. Shaftesbury, Ferndown, Christchurch, Winton, Dorchester and Wareham will also close.

The decision to sell Ferndown divisional headquarters and transfer 220 members of staff to other areas of the force will save almost £400,000 a year in running costs – the equivalent of 10 front line officers or 17 Community Support Officers.

The estimated value of the site is approximately between £6 and £8 million. It is expected that the sale of the building and re-location of staff could take up to two years.

The Ferndown Safer Neighbourhood Team will continue to operate from the Barrington Centre. “Dorset Police is the fourth lowest-spending force in England and Wales and is faced with a very challenging budgetary situation, so difficult choices have had to be made,” said Chief Constable Debbie Simpson.

“We are committed to providing the best possible service while reflecting true demand and value for money and an organisational change programme continues to improve efficiency and identify savings across the force.”