Ammanford Police plans to spark a protest (From South Wales Guardian)

Ammanford Police plans to spark a protest

1:10pm Friday 13th July 2012 in News

AMMANFORD town councillors are not taking plans to close the front desk of the Foundry Road police station lying down.

They are writing to both Dyfed- Powys Police and Mark James, chief executive of Carmarthenshire county council, outlining their opposition to such a move.

Cllr Wendy Evans told colleagues it was time to stand up and be counted.

“We should be writing to the chief constable outlining our concerns – we’ve been quiet too long,” she said.

“At this rate, by the time we’ve done something we won’t have a police station here in Ammanford at all.”

Cllr Evans also hit out at the county council who, she felt, were already anticipating the police station’s closure to the public.

“I’m very disappointed with them,” she said. “They are putting their staff into the town hall almost as if they’re getting ready for the station to close.”

Cllr Andrew Lewis said such a move would penalise taxpayers.

“The police are one of the services we pay taxes for,” he said.

“If they are taking this particular service away from us then surely our taxes should be reduced?”

Cllr Jonathan Davies, who attended the previous month’s meeting when the plans were revealed, reminded his colleagues that officers had disclosed such a move could be reversed.

“We were told that if closing the front desk proved a disaster the police would be prepared to look at reopening it,” he added.

“I would like that minuted, please.”