Three police stations in Caerphilly County Borough have been reopened to the public.
Ystrad Mynach and Risca stations will open five days a week while police services will be available from Caerphilly Library. They are among seven front desks to reopen across Gwent.
Caerphilly Observer first revealed the plans in January this year.
The front desk closures were part of a plan to save £500,000 from the police budget – part of a wider need by Gwent Police to save £34 million by 2015, in light of UK Government spending cuts.
In total, 17 station front desks closed to the public including Bedwas, Bargoed and Rhymney. Newbridge station was also closed in February this year.
Ian Johnston, Gwent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “The closure of police stations and accessibility to them has been high on the agenda for many of our communities.
“Acting on direct feedback I’ve received from members of the public, I’m delighted to announce the opening of an additional seven front counter services at police stations across Gwent and the extended opening hours of a number of other stations.”
• The original copy of this article said that police officers were transferred from Newbridge Police Station to Newbridge Memo.
However, a Newbridge Memo spokesman said: “We are still in discussions with Gwent Police about the provision of a ‘hot desk’ facility at the Memo, but no formal arrangement has been reached as yet. We want them to come here and hopefully it will be finalised soon.”
Newbridge police station was a waste of money building it because it has never been open to the public and it is a disgrace. The only time you had anyone on the front desk was when arthur withers volunteered to do it. There is only so much arthur can do on his own.
You never see any police walking around, the drug scene is increasing around newbridge and I have told Ian johnston my views but there you go it is a waste of time.
Someone got stabbed in newbridge yesterday and they were bleeding quite heavily apparently and not as it was reported to the media.
I don't see any police in the memo either.