A TORFAEN car park is to be closed overnight in a bid to crackdown on incidents of anti-social behaviour.

Following consultation with residents, traders and workers in Pontypool, the car park near the civic centre will be shut from 8pm until 6.30am, Monday to Friday, starting on Monday next week (August 15).

The site will also be subject to a Public Spaces Protection Order, allowing Gwent Police greater powers to deal with anti-social behaviour issues, including car cruising, vandalism, alcohol and substance misuse.

Councillor John Cunningham, Torfaen council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “While closing the Civic Centre car park in the evenings is not ideal, we believe it is worth it to try and address the anti-social behaviour that is taking place on a daily basis.

“As well as the safety of our own staff, town centre workers and visitors, we have to consider the safety of the young people who are gathering in the car park and becoming targets for older adults.”

Gwent Police is supporting Torfaen council in the closure of the car park at night.

Torfaen Inspector David Morgan said: “We support any proportionate measures put in place to tackle anti-social behaviour in our local communities.

"The Neighbourhood Team has recently issued three young people with criminal behaviour orders as a direct result of their behaviour in the Civic Centre car park and they will continue to regularly patrol the area."

"We have seen a reduction in anti-social behaviour over the last three months and we will continue to work closely with the local authority to review any complaints made about anti-social behaviour in this particular location and address any concerns,” he added.

There are no plans to close the other car parks located in Pontypool, and the effectiveness of the strategy will be reviewed as time passes.

Cllr Cunningham added: “The closure will stop vehicles from accessing the car park at night and prevent the car cruising and loud music that is so disruptive to local residents, while the Public Spaces Protection Order will give the police more powers to tackle the other issues of antisocial behaviour."