EASTLEIGH’S police station is up for sale, the Daily Echo can reveal.

The building in the town centre is on the market and offers have already been made.

It comes after the station’s front office was closed for good on Monday.

Both the agent, Lambert Smith Hampton, and the police refused to say who has made the offers or confirm the asking price.

A spokeswoman for the police and crime commissioner said: “The site will not be disposed of until suitable accommodation for all policing teams has been secured in their local policing area, within the next 12 months.”

Officers will then move to another location but further details of the location, the type of accommodation and the cost of the move have not been disclosed.

Meanwhile, the force said the change of location would have no impact on the police presence in the town centre.

But Lib Dem council leader Keith House reiterated the importance of guaranteeing a police presence across the borough.

Councillor House said: “We have already offered the police front desk facilities at Eastleigh House.

“I hope that despite the closure this week of the front office to the public this is something that Hampshire police will take up.

“It may well be that for support services a location away from the town centre makes operational sense and that is for the police to work through.

“But Eastleigh residents expect the police to be available in the town centre, which is why we are displeased with the Police and Crime Commissioner’s decision to shut up shop across the borough.”

As previously reported, the closure of the station’s front office leaves borough residents facing a 4.5-mile journey to speak face-to-face to a police officer, as the nearest enquiry office will be the one in Portswood, Southampton.

The force said the decision to close the front office came from analysis of public engagement at all station offices.

Mike Anthony, chairman of the Eastleigh Neighbourhood Watch Association (ENWA), said: “I’m sure most of us regret the loss of face-to face contact that closure of the front desk of Eastleigh station represents.

“But we have to look objectively at the decision.

“It is far more important to protect funding for the PCs and PCSOs who are providing face to face contact at PACT meetings and other venues.

“Times have changed.

“We have to move with them.

“Let’s focus on ensuring we protect police funding and help our police to give us the best service we can get.”