A LOCAL authority has been urged to think again over its plan to sell off Prestatyn’s only remaining police base.

Earlier this year Denbighshire County Council gave North Wales Police (NWP) notice to quit the building on Nant Hall Road, which the authority owns.

The premises also houses the town council’s chambers and offices and is home to the area’s community nurse team also use the building as a base but they have been told they need to move out by July.

Prestatyn North county councillor Paul Penlington said: “It’s a great shame Denbighshire County Council has chosen to sell one of the few remaining old buildings in Prestatyn.

“It’s well used by a number of organisations so I cannot see why Denbighshire County Council  are so set on selling another community asset.

“It is a serious concern that the police, community nurses and the town council now have to find alternative premises.

“Residents have queried why Denbighshire County Council have again chosen to sell a publicly owned property without proper consultation and with a measure of secrecy.”

Cllr Penlington added: “It would have been nice to see it kept in public ownership with the current tenants staying in the centre of Prestatyn and the downstairs space used by community groups – for example the Prestatyn’s Artisans group who are currently looking for a new location due to their building, the old library, also being sold by Denbighshire County Council.”

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: “The council and the police are in discussions with a third party to retain a police presence in  the town.

“At the present time, the police are assessing the possible new location to see if it is suitable but we are hopeful that an operational base for the police will be retained for the neighbourhood policing team and the response team.

“We  are in regular contact with NWP and are working with  them to resolve the matter so the town can retain its police presence.”