Plans for a new police post in Tollesbury Road, Tolleshunt D'Arcy have been put into action.

A planning application to build a police post in a cottage or a one-bedroom bungalow, including a reception, office and interview room, has been submitted to Maldon District Council for approval this week.

Essex Police surveyors have said they want to buy a small area in the grounds of Tolleshunt D'Arcy Primary School and build a police post there to improve links with the community.

Dave Watt, a surveyor at Essex Police Property Services, who made the application said: ''The community have been after one for some time, it's been round as a possibility for a number of years. It's still dependent on planning permission and the land hasn't been purchased yet. It also depends on the tendering coming in within the budget."

Tolleshunt D'Arcy Parish Clerk Andrew Christy said: ''Residents will welcome the possibility of having a presence, but are sceptical about how often it will be open."

There have been complaints from residents in rural areas about the level of community policing, and officers have been centralised to main police stations, making patrols in villages but not being based there.

If the new post is given the go-ahead by planning councillors it will not be open all the time, but Jean Steele, the Essex Police Divisional Administration Manager,said that the times, when they are decided, would be well advertised.

Published Friday, May 30, 2003

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