POLICE stations in Gwent that were reopened last year will now remain open, the Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has announced.

Following a positive response from the public, Gwent PCC Ian Johnston revealed that several key police stations that had been closed or had limited opening hours would now stay open.

Stations in Caerphilly, Chepstow, Maindee, Monmouth, Pontypool, Risca and Ystrad Mynach reopened their front counters between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Mr Johnston also extended the opening hours at Abertillery and Brynmawr stations.

The PCC has been reviewing and evaluating these arrangements over the last 12 months and has decided to retain public access to these police stations following the findings of a number of public surveys he organised last year and feedback from the hundreds of public engagement meetings that both he and his team have attended.

Last year, Mr Johnston slammed cuts to police budgets, stating that the cuts outlined in the provisional police grant settlement by the Home Office would stretch already diminishing resources at Gwent Police to “dangerous levels”.

The settlement indicated that the central government grants for policing will be reduced by 5.1 per cent in cash terms in 2015-16, a cut of £299 million to the overall policing budget. However, after commissioning two evaluations of the reopened stations between July and October 2014, Mr Johnston revealed that respondents supported the decision to offer front counter services and that most people felt they had received a good service having used or visited the stations and that this provision should be permanently reinstated.

Mr Johnston said: “When I took office in 2012 I embarked on a series of community engagement activities and it became apparent that the closing of front counter services was not a popular decision with the community.

“The data from the surveys and the positive public feedback in relation to my decision to re-establish access to police stations has made it clear to me that this is what the public want and that these facilities are important where reassuring and engaging with the public is concerned.

“Acting on this information, I’m delighted to announce that these stations will remain open.”

Caerphilly, Chepstow, Maindee, Monmouth, Pontypool, Risca and Ystrad Mynach police stations are open 9am to 5pm on Monday to Friday. Abertillery station is open Thursday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Brynmawr station is open Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm.

Unison Gwent Police and Justice Branch Secretary, Linda Sweet said staff were "delighted" with the move, saying: “We welcome the decision to keep the stations open following the successful trial period last year. Staff that were temporary will now be made permanent and they are obviously delighted with the decision which provides them with job security and peace of mind.

"The public response has been outstanding and there was an overwhelming call from them to keep these stations open. It’s good to be able to provide them with a service they called for and this decision also gives them peace of mind.”