LEIGH Police Station is set to close to the public early next year.

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the public enquiry counter at the Chapel Street station will shut after conducting a survey into the ways people contact emergency services.

But Leigh MP Andy Burnham is calling on GMP to reverse their decision.

He said: “The idea that a town the size of Leigh can have no place for the public to have direct access to the police is wrong. People already have concerns about the availability of officers, and not everybody wants to speak to the police over the phone or online – some things can only be done face-to-face.

“I am calling on GMP to reconsider its plans for Leigh.”

More than 500 residents signed a petition to save the station when it was revealed to be one of the 10 lowest attended in Greater Manchester.

Figures show that the Leigh station is the second busiest of those.

Following a full public consultation, all 10 of the stations will be closed to the public from February, say GMP.

They added that officer numbers will remain unchanged and the stations affected will still be used as bases for police staff and officers.

Members of the public will still be able to visit the stations for pre-arranged appointments and neighbourhood meetings will continue to take place within communities.

Assistant chief constable Rob Potts said: “While counters are being used less and less, we are looking at new ways for people to contact us, including plans for a transformed website that directs people to relevant partner agencies depending on the reason for the visit and a new online chat facility that means people will soon be able to communicate with GMP in real time via the internet.

“These changes are a crucial step in ensuring our services match the needs of the people that we serve.”

With the police stations in Atherton and Tyldesley closing in 2012 and 2006 respectively, Leigh residents will have to go to Bolton or Wigan to talk to police at a public enquiry counter, says Jayson Lomax-Hargreaves.

The UKIP representative for the Leigh West ward, who set up the petition to save the Leigh station, added: “We should have a fully working police station in the town, not just the public enquiry counter we have now.

“By removing the station I believe that more petty crimes will go unreported.

“People should not have to travel to Bolton or Wigan to speak to the police.

“It is just unacceptable.”

Of the 2,000-plus people who completed the survey, 10 per cent said they had been to a public enquiry counter in the past 10 years and 50 per cent said they had looked at GMP’s website or contacted the police online.