RESIDENTS in part of Southampton are being asked to have their say on a plan to move police out of their local station so the force can sell off the building to save cash.

Speculation has risen that local safer neighbourhoods team in Portswood could be given a new home in Sainsbury’s which opened on the high street last year.

Hampshire police are, however, denying that such a move is on the cards yet – insisting they have no proposals in place for any possible new home for its officers.

Now they are inviting local residents to turn out for a community meeting to share their thoughts on the initial idea before it is progressed further.

It’s the latest in a series of relocations which are in the planning across the county under the force’s estates review, designed at shutting and selling off expensive buildings or ending expensive rentals.

Instead, police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes wants officers to be relocated into other buildings in the community under partnerships with organisations like councils and the fire service.

Shirley police station was among the first in Southampton to be relocated – with around 80 officers moving this month in to a building attached to Redbridge fire station which will be rented from the service for a nominal fee. The station will be put up for sale next year. Similar schemes have also taken place in Twyford, Stockbridge and Alresford.

In May 2011 the Daily Echo first reported on a plan to close stations across the county as an estates review got under way. Mr Hayes then ordered a second, independent review, into the estates owned by the force and revealed in May how he had slashed the bill by more than 50 per cent, to £40m.

Acting Director of Hampshire Constabulary’s Estate Development Programme, Chief Inspector Rob Heath, said: “We already have a number of officers in the force successfully working from alternative locations.”

The community meeting will take place in the meeting room in Sainsburys, Portswood, on Wednesday, July 24, between 6.30-7.30pm. People planning to attend should go to the customer services desk.