STRONG opposition including from the town's MP has failed to stop the closure of Skipton Police Station's custody suite.

The cells will close in the spring, and those arrested taken instead 20 miles to Harrogate Police Station's new 'investigation hub'.

The decision comes after MP Julian Smith called on police and crime commissioner, Julia Mulligan, to use her powers and halt the closure plans because it was not 'in the public interest'.

"This is a deeply disappointing decision which is a kick in the teeth to local justice in Craven and which shows a lack of understanding of the challenges of local justice in one of the most rural parts of Britain," said Mr Smith.

"If a significant cost saving could be demonstrated this decision might make more sense but the flawed numbers and arithmetic around this decision mean that we will lose an important piece in the justice jigsaw with limited impact on saving money for North Yorkshire police.

"I am particularly disappointed that the Police and Crime Commissioner has not seen fit to use the powers she holds to overturn this decision on public interest grounds."

North Yorkshire's Assistant Chief Constable, Paul Kennedy, said the closure should be welcomed.

"When people hear something is about to close, it is natural to feel concerned, but in fact this is a positive move," he said.

"At the moment, the custody facility in Skipton isn't suitable for detentions of more than six hours, it costs money to run and it handles fewer than three arrests a day on average, which is a small number."

Police and crime commissioner, Julia Mulligan said she had listened to concerns and had given them her 'full scrutiny' but approved the decision to close.

"This is very difficult, and I fully understand the feelings of local people who are used to having a local custody facility at Skipton, however I have a duty to consider the efficiency and effectiveness of the police service across the whole of North Yorkshire, and it is important that I take a wider view of how to achieve the best service possible for the county as a whole."

She said the force faced 'significant financial challenges which meant doing things in different ways.

"The changes aren't comfortable but they are necessary, if we want to keep the maximum resource focused on local community policing - which is what people tell me they want me to do."

But Skipton solicitor, John Mewies, president of the Keighley and Craven District Law Society, said it was a decision that would not result as claimed in more officers on the beat.

"It is a decision that was taken by North Yorkshire Police months ago and prior to the consultation process which was no more than a public relations exercise," he said.

"The counter argument to close has been totally disregarded by the police and the police and crime commissioner and I predict that the closure will not result in significant cost savings and that the public will not notice a discernible increase in the number of officers on the beat."

Harrogate's new 'investigation hubs' where arrested people will be taken from the spring, is a concept already used in other parts of the country.

Mrs Mulligan added she had spoken to the police about mitigating the possible effects of travelling from some of the remoter parts of Craven, including taking detainees to Cumbria.