A Worcester County lawmaker says he’s thrilled to hear that the State Police barracks in Brookfield, Massachusetts, will remain open.

The barracks had initially been scheduled to close this weekend, a date that was then moved to February. But State Police spokesman Dave Procopio says officials decided to keep the barracks open after listening to concerns raised by local leaders and police chiefs of the eleven towns covered by the barracks. State Representative Donnie Berthiaume of Spencer says the barracks provides critical police assistance to the rural communities.

“A few of them don’t have patrols at night due to budgetary constraints, so they would rely on the barracks and troopers that man it. And also most of my towns don’t have lockups or, if they do have their own cells, don’t have the manpower to staff it,” he says.

Berthiaume says he thinks a bill that would have delayed the barracks closure pending an impact study won’t be necessary anymore.