PLANS to close the front desk at Chepstow police station as part of sizeable cost-cutting measures across the local police force received a mixed reaction from councillors.

Chepstow is one of 17 losing the service to help Gwent Police save £14 million by 2015.

Assistant Chief Constable Simon Prince and Inspector Mark Pope were invited to last week's Chepstow Town Council meeting to give a presentation about the cuts.

ACC Prince said 60% of people attend the five front desks which will retain a member of staff- Newport central, Cwmbran, Blackwood, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny.

A fact sheet handed out to councillors revealed on average, 17 people visit Chepstow Police Station per day, at a cost of £5.53 per visit.

But councillor Armand Watts said the public were not given the option to choose which stations they wanted to keep open.

Addressing ACC Prince, he said: "I think you should be ashamed of the way you have presented it to the community."

The assistant chief constable said if he was asked if he wanted his local police station's front desk to close, his answer would be no.

"The fact of the matter is we have to make some very, very difficult choices," he said.

Closing 17 of the front desks will save the force £500,000, the meeting was told.

Councillors had the chance to view a mobile police station beforehand and town mayor Paul Rutter said it is essential Gwent Police make it clear when it will be in the town.

Councillor Tom Kerton said he was worried that Chepstow had been ignored due to its proximity to England.

"For me it's a geographical thing. We could become no man's land where people could get away with a lot more," he said.

Councillor Hilary Beech added: "I know they have to save money but I think this town is being disregarded.

"If you have been mugged in the centre of Chepstow you are in distress you see a police station and you can't talk to a human being face to face."

Councillor Phil Hobson said policing had successfully adapted to changes in the past with crime levels falling.

ACC Prince said crime had already been pushed down by 10% this year.

"I am not happy about it but I see what they have got to do," Cllr Hobson added.