Front desk service at Baldock Police Station will close to the public on Friday in advance of the site’s shutdown and sale.

The station will remain operational for the time being, however Hertfordshire Constabulary will cease using the High Street base later this year.

Chief inspector for North Herts, Neil Ballard, said: “I would like to reassure the public that the closing of the front counter and the eventual closure of Baldock Police Station will have no adverse affect on normal operational policing, including Neighbourhood Policing, emergency response and police patrols which all continue as normal.

“Your local officers are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week so a closed front counter or station does not mean there is no one around to help you.”

It was previously open from Monday to Wednesday from 12-4.30pm and while it is still operational, the public can continue to use an external telephone that is connected to the force’s control room.

The station will be closed as Herts police face a �36m shortfall over the next four years and it is expected the disposal of the Baldock base, along with three other police stations, will net the force �20m in capital receipts.

A county councillor for the town, Michael Muir, says there will be no problems if the town’s officers continue to patrol the area as Baldock has a very low crime rate.

He said: “I was at the launch of the policing plan last night at county headquarters and quite honestly it came up but the amount of people who go into Baldock Police Station is infinitesimal.

“I’m a bit concerned but none of them are serious, a lot of the people in the town are worried, but I don’t think there’s any need to worry.”

In a statement the police advised visiting Letchworth GC’s or Hitchin’s station if a member of public needs to speak to an officer in person, but front desk service will cease here from those sites in September.

There are no plans to close Stevenage station’s front desk.

Details of the front desk closure were released this week as part of the Hertfordshire Policing Plan, where the force pledged to protect frontline services.