POLICE are set to move into new premises in Thornbury in the New Year.

The site, at the rear of the Town Hall, is presently occupied by the Citizens Advice Bureau, and is now under refurbishment by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary to also accommodate the local beat team, due to the bureau not making use of the full space.

The facility will aim to fulfil an important role in ensuring that officers will continue to be present in the town.

While the site will not be classified an actual police station, it will serve as a base for the local beat team to work from.

“The town council is delighted that a solution has been found to continue a policing presence in Thornbury,” said Cllr Clive Parkinson, who has been involved with finding a new base for the force.

“Conversations with the Citizens Advice Bureau were very fruitful and came to a conclusion reasonably quickly.

“They were more than happy to share their excess space with the police.”

He added: “While it won’t be a formal station, the public will be able to leave messages through the council officers in the Town Hall.

“This means the police will have the opportunity to be more visible, being so close to the centre of town.”

Avon and Somerset Constabulary have earmarked the facility to go live in January 2016, when the public will be able to make appointments to see the Neighbourhood team.

“As far as we are concerned, it will be good for us to move back into the heart of the shopping centre,” said local beat manager Sean White.

“It’s our area of focus for tackling ongoing crime so it’s good to be situated so close.”

The police beat team stationed in Thornbury have been based in temporary accommodation since 2013, with the former police station on Rock Street having been developed into a housing complex last year.

At present, the police have been making use of a room in the old South Gloucestershire Council offices in Stokefield Close.