Marlow’s top police officer will be holding “sergeant’s surgeries” from next month in a bid to maintain engagement with the public following the closure of the town’s police station.

Sergeant Robin Hughes will holding monthly surgeries in public locations around Marlow, Stokenchurch and Bourne End to “ensure on-going visibility and engagement” while the police station undergoes development.

The station will be turned into 30 retirement flats over the period of around a year after plans were given the go-ahead by Wycombe District Council.

The Dean Street station has been in the spotlight since 2014 when Thames Valley Police were forced to put it up for sale after announcing £44.6m of savings had to be made.

Officers officially moved out of the station and into portable cabins at Marlow FC yesterday. 

The team are expected to be there for at least a year. 

Sergeant Robin Hughes said having the police team based in the town while the work is ongoing is the “most important thing”.

He said: “It is just an operating base and all public access will be through High Wycombe Police Station, but Marlow officers and the Marlow police team will still be based in Marlow. We will still be responding from Marlow until our new building is up and built.

“We would have put up tents if we had to, to stay in Marlow and respond from Marlow. The last thing I would have wanted is for us to have to respond from High Wycombe, it is too far away.

“We need to be in Marlow and that is where we will be, dealing with Marlow, Stokenchurch, Bourne End and Lane End, which is great.”

The surgeries will be starting next month and times and places will be advertised at the beginning of each month.

Sgt Hughes said they will be the “ideal opportunity” to raise any concerns or questions with the local neighbourhood policing team.

Alternatively, contact the team online by emailing MarlowNHPT2@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk or call 101.