POLICE chiefs are to ensure face-to-face meetings between their officers and residents continue after the planned closure of a Hampshire village base.

The county constabulary has taken the first steps to maintain a concrete presence in Eastleigh's southern parishes after the doors shut on its station in Netley.

A network of regular police surgeries based around Bursledon, Hamble and Hound is currently being set up.

Already Hamble parish council has agreed to allow police to use the village's Memorial Hall as a base from the beginning of March.

The surgery will be held on the first Saturday of each month between 10am and noon and on a Wednesday between 5pm and 7pm.

Meanwhile, an agreement has been reached with managers at Bursledon's Tesco store to hold a surgery on the second Saturday of each month.

Talks are also being held with Bursledon parish council to find a suitable site for a further meeting, possibly on a Tuesday.

An agreement has yet to be reached with Hound Parish Council as to how the police will run a meeting point in Netley.

But talks between police chiefs, parish and borough councillors and borough council leader Keith House over the details of the station closure plan being recommended to the force's chief constable will be held on Tuesday.

Although the surgery network would not replace all the services provided by the Netley base, it would give locals the chance to approach their local bobby with their concerns in confidence.

Insp Paul Briggs, of Hedge End police, told the Echo: "They are not really meant to replace or fulfil the function of a police station but are a point of contact for the public.

"It will not affect levels of patrol. We have just undertaken to be in a certain place if the public want to talk."