MALDON’S old police station due to go up for sale in the coming months will be worth more than £400,000, the Standard can reveal.

The police station on West Square in the town closed on July 31, with the force’s new base opening at the district council offices on Princes Road.

Figures from a Freedom of Information request reveal that the value of the station, which is fully owned by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, exceeds more than £400,000.

Essex Police previously claimed the funds freed up from the move, and those generated from the sale, will go into helping police establish a more visible presence in the district.

The new base at the Maldon District Council offices offers a counter service from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, and also acts as a home base for officers out on patrols in the district.

At the opening of the new centre, Roger Hirst hailed the offices as the “modern way” of policing, and that the old station would have needed £30,000 of renovations to bring it up to standard. He said: “I don’t want to be running a police service which has staff standing in buildings not doing anything. These offices will help them get out more into the community and increase our visual presence.”

Maldon residents hope that the funds raised from the sale will benefit their town’s policing.

Simon Brew, of Fambridge Road, said: “I’m not surprised the building is worth so much. Back in its hey-day it was extremely active with lots of officers and worked well.

“Obviously with cut backs in recent years Essex Police have deemed it no longer necessary. I want to keep an open mind about the new centre, and I hope the police keep to their word and use the funds to reinvest into their officers and help keep Maldon safe.”