Gwent Police have announced plans for Abergavenny to receive a brand new purpose-built police station with work due to start in 2022.

The purchase of a plot of land at LLanfoist means that work, subject to planning permission, could start in mid-2022 on building a long-term home for the area’s neighbourhood policing and response teams.

Announcing the plans, Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert said: “A great deal of time and effort has gone into this project and I’m extremely pleased that we can finally deliver on our commitment to a permanent base for Gwent Police in Abergavenny.

“Finding the right site has required a high degree of perseverance and I’m grateful to local residents and our police teams for working with us while we reached the right solution for the future.”

Abergavenny has been without a manned ’cop shop’ since the start of 2019, when the previous town centre building in Tudor Street was sold off to be redeveloped as retirement flats. It meant that the nearest fully manned station was Cwmbran 15 miles away.

The ‘efficiency’ move by Gwent Police was criticised by some at the time, with no firm plans for a replacement building, only an outline proposal to share a new hub with the fire station.

The town currently has a daytime “Station Enquiry Officer” based weekdays in the county council’s town hall-based One Stop Shop.

Speaking about the proposed location of the new station, Gwent Police Chief Constable Pam Kelly added:

“The location means that our neighbourhood team can easily cover the town centre on foot, while our response cars have good access to the local road networks for urgent calls. While we have maintained our performance from our temporary location, I know that many residents will be glad to have this firm pledge around future services delivered on.”

“Our officers have worked hard from temporary accommodation to keep the residents of Abergavenny area safe and It’s good news for them too that we can now set out our plans for a base that will be designed with the needs of a modern police force in mind.”

Speaking to the Chronicle following the announcement, Aberagvenny Town Mayor Cllr Tudor Thomas said: “I welcome the news that a new Police Station is due to be built by 2023 but am disappointed by the long delay in building a permanent Police station in Abergavenny.

“It is also disappointing that the new Police Station will be built in Llanfoist and not in Abergavenny. The townspeople of Abergavenny have missed having a Police presence in the town, currently Police Officers have to travel from Monmouth or Pontypool which inevitably creates a delay in attending.

“I hope the new build goes ahead as soon as possible and without any delays.”

With the purchase complete work is scheduled to start in 2022 with the new station up and running by the end of 2023, subject to planning permission.

Members of the public who wish to speak to Gwent Police face to face can continue to use their counter service at the Town Hall in the centre of Abergavenny or contact local officers via social media or by calling 101.