A NEW headquarters for Gwent Police has been given the green light, despite concerns raised over traffic issues.

Torfaen council’s planning committee voted to approve plans for the force to move to a new base in Llantarnam, Cwmbran, at a meeting on Tuesday.

The plans involve building a HQ and multi-storey car park with 432 spaces on two areas of Llantarnam Industrial Park.

The building will replace the force's current headquarters of more than 40 years in Croesyceiliog, Cwmbran.

At the planning meeting, Cllr Alan Slade said he did not believe the highway could 'cope' with the development.

He said: "I've read the traffic appraisal and it says there are going to be some 190 cars coming out of there during peak periods during the evening.

"That corresponds to about half a mile of traffic on an existing already incredibly busy and congested road network."

Cllr Fay Jones echoed the concerns and said she had witnessed several ‘near misses’ in the area.

But Paul Wheeldon, group leader highways of development and control, said the effect of the development on traffic issues would be limited to peak periods.

Richard Lewis, head of planning and development, added it would be difficult to prove that the development would make traffic matters worse.

Cllr Jason O’Connell said he welcomed the development and urged councillors to listen to the expertise of the council’s highways team.

"I think it's an excellent use of the site and Gwent Police should be applauded for investing in their facilities and for believing that Torfaen is the right place to invest in those facilities," he told the meeting.

Under the plans the three-storey building will accommodate offices and the police control room.

No blue light services will operate out of the headquarters though.

A 10-metre ‘security buffer’ will be in place between the building and boundary of the site.