Caerphilly town’s new police station is to open its doors from Monday.
The Caerphilly Neighbourhood Policing Team will move into the new address at 4a Market Street opposite the Visit Caerphilly Centre. The building used to be home to the Campaign newspaper before it moved out of the town.
The new police station will be a 24-hour operational base and the front office will be open to members of the public every Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.
The Neighbourhood Policing Team and the front desk service is moving from the current premises on Mountain Road, which will no longer be open to the public.
The long-term aim is to sell off the Mountain Road building.
Caerphilly Superintendent Jon Burley, said: “The decision to move the position of the police station was part of an overall review of our estate across the Caerphilly County Borough.
“Even when the front office of the police station is not open to members of the public, residents can continue to access our service 24-hours a day. They can do this by dialling 101 in a non-emergency and 999 in an emergency. Police officers and staff will be accessing the new station, even when it is not open to the public, and will be out on patrol providing a visible presence in our communities.”
Councillor Harry Andrews, who is a Gwent Police Authority Member for Caerphilly, said: “The important thing is location. This more or less brings the service closer to the people.
“There is no question, there is likely to be more people coming here.”
Fellow authority member Councillor Colin Mann agreed.
He said: “The central position of this station is an improvement on the previous location and we would encourage members of the public to make full use of this new facility.
“It’s far easier for people to get here. The old one was okay for anyone driving, but on foot it was not an ideal location.”
The closing of the old police station, which is housed in the old urban district council building, should save £50,000 a year. The long-term plan is to sell off the Ty Bronrhiw building, which still has the old council chamber intact.
There are concerns this historic council chamber could be lost. Cllr Mann revealed that contact had been made with National History Museum St Fagan’s and Cadw, but neither organisation seemed interested in preserving the council chamber.
Gwent Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Jeff Farrar said it was sad to see a traditional place go but added that it was not fit for modern day policing.
He said: “People cling to traditional things and we understand its disappointing. It’s about the service we provide and not necessarily the building itself.”
Caerphilly Inspector Paul Staniforth, said: “To help celebrate the launch I will be holding police surgeries for members of the public during the first week in our new home. Please come along to speak to me about any local issues that you may be experiencing.”
Local residents are invited to meet Inspector Paul Staniforth on:
Tuesday October 11, 4pm to 5pm
Thursday October 13, 10am to 11am
You can also contact the Caerphilly Neighbourhood Policing Team by e-mailing Caerphilly@gwent.pnn.police.uk, or calling 02920 857 453.
To report crime and incidents, please phone Gwent Police on 101. In an emergency, dial 999.
In the late 19th century there was a Caerphilly Police Sergeant, named Brinson, in the 21st Century the Police Station is next to Brinsons Estate Agency, creepy or what?.
We are now policed from Blackwood. For good or ill this cannot be described as a police station. It is merely a police shop.
I know that police stations are being closed almost as fast as pubs all around England and Wales, we can expect no different in our area. What I do find mystifying is that the county town, Caerffili, loses facilities every time. I believe this stems from the political parties wanting to please their supporters from other parts of the borough, rather than decisions being made pragmatically.
With regard to the police presence, why not offer the old police station on Park Lane back to the police? It is council owned and has a dedicated car park for the police vehicles. The council tax payement office, which currently uses this building, could be moved to the old post office. I believe it will go there eventually, in any case, as part of the council advice centre planned for the foyer of this building.