CHIEFS have said people needing to visit a police station front counter can look forward to a better quality of service from Monday.

In a bid to meet the government’s £43 million spending cuts by 2015, Lancashire police have been forced to shut down 14 front counters.

Police chiefs now say that the 24 remaining front counters will offer more consistent opening hours and a wider range of services, with the majority not closing for lunch or training purposes.

The changes will save the force £386,000. A further £4.5million has been saved through the sale of 31 police buildings; and around £500,000 in the running costs of those buildings.

Chief Supt Sarah Oldham said: “The changes to front counter provision were necessary, not just to save money but also to bring some level of consistency to the level of service provided to the public.

“We fully appreciate that where closures happen the public may be concerned but the majority of people will have less than five miles to travel to an alternative front counter where they should experience a much better quality of service.”

Closures included Rawtenstall, Bacup, Haslingden, Briefield, Padiham and Earby.