Aberystwyth Town Council will no longer pay rent for a police office at Neuadd Goffa in Penparcau after hearing from police that it is increasing its presence at another village venue.

The Cambrian News reported last month that the council was investigating the future of the police presence in Penparcau, which has been funded by the council at Neuadd Goffa for “some years”.

Councillors heard at a meeting last Monday that police are now using the Penparcau Hub a lot more, with two officers based there, and are not using Neuadd Goffa.

The town council has paid for the rent of a police office in the building for several years.

Members heard from town clerk Gweneira Raw-Rees that police had informed the council it had “stopped using the police office” in Neuadd Goffa.

“They are relocating police resources,” the council was told.

“Two officers will be on patrol in the village with another two officers now based at the hub as a base as far more people come there and police believe it is a more effective base.

“They are committed to maintaining a police presence locally and Neuadd Goffa is not the best place to do that.”

Cllr Charlie Kingsbury said that it was “tremendously reassuring and highly important that police would continue to be based in Penparcau.”

“Neuadd Goffa has been a useful place to use, but now if it is is not needed we should thank the hall’s committee for allowing us to rent a space for police,” he added.

Mayor Cllr Alun Williams said it was “important that police are centred in the community”.

“We will now have to take steps to no longer hire that room,” he said.

“It has been useful over the years to ensure the police have a base but there is now a better facility [for them to use].”

During an earlier meeting on 13 September, councillors decided to contact Dyfed-Powys Police to find out if Neuadd Goffa is still being used after concerns were raised over the police presence in the village.

At that meeting Cllr Charlie Kingsbury said: “I think the last time we checked was pre-Covid-19 and it might be worth checking now to see if they do intend to use the space or not.

“If we’re paying for it, we should really know if they’re using it.

“I think most people in Penparcau would prefer if we had some sort of police presence there, so it would be good if we could find out.”

Cllr Alun Williams said: “People in Penparcau would like to have that presence there, that’s not even a question.

“But as I’ve questioned the expenditure before, I propose we write to the police as a council to find out they’re plans and to find out how they intend to use the money.”

Cllr Dylan Wilson-Lewis said: “There is a significant amount of support in Penparcau for the police presence.

“We need to make enquiries about the police plans for the station.”

The council unanimously agreed to cease funding the room at Neuadd Goffa.