A FORMER police station in Moulsham is set to become a community hub, nine years after its previous community centre was forced to close.

The Moulsham Lodge station, on Gloucester Avenue, will become the new home for the Moulsham Lodge Community Trust, which was set up following the closure of the Moulsham Lodge Community Centre on Waltham Green in 2005.

The trust and Essex County Council have been working together for a number of years to find a new “hub” for the area.

County Hall has now negotiated a one year lease of the building from Essex Police which in turn it will sublet to the trust for community use such as meetings and clubs, subject to planning approval.

The police station stopped operating in 2011 as part of a raft of cuts in the force.

At a ceremony on Tuesday, police crime commissioner Nick Alston handed over the keys to the building to County Councillor Dick Madden and the chairman of the trust Mark Springett.

Mr Springett said: “We’re of course delighted this is now happening. The one year lease will help us establish a hub and provide a place for groups to run community services or clubs.

“Areas like this need a community hub.”

The trust will also encourage police to come into the centre and use it as a place to hold surgeries.

Mr Madden said: “We’re very excited. There’s been plenty of obstacles to get to this point but we’re almost there now. This will provide the perfect opportunity for groups to provide and develop local services.”

Discussions will continue over the coming year to see if County Hall is able to purchase the site and provide a more permanent lease for the trust.