PLANS to close four police stations in Gwent are to go ahead as the force begins speaking to residents on shutting another three.

A meeting of Gwent Police Authority agreed to close stations in Llanhilleth, Rassau, Castleton and Llanmartin in Newport, and to allow its current premises in Duffryn to be shared with other groups.

It also agreed to begin consultations on closing Usk, Raglan and Tintern stations in Monmouthshire.

None of the stations planned for closure have published opening hours and are only open to the public when an officer is attending administrative work - except for Tintern where volunteers provide a service during the summer.

Under the plans police services in Castleton, Llanmartin and Rassau will be provided by mobile police stations and local meetings.

In Llanhilleth services would be provided through the Llanhileth Miners Institute building, while Gwent Police intend to share their current premises in Duffryn with Newport City Council and community organisation Duffryn Community Link.

Plans now open for consultation will include the provision of mobile police stations in Tintern and Raglan and sharing facilities with Usk Town Council in the town’s Session House.

A report to the authority said appropriate alternative accomodation would be sourced for the summer volunteer service in Tintern.

Consultations will run until October this year.

The plans form part of the force’s re-provision scheme which aims to save money and improve and modernise the service in the community.

Over the next two year the force is reviewing all neighbourhood police stations through a rolling programme.