AN APPEAL to overturn a rejected proposal for a housing development on a community green has been opposed by residents.

Bron Afon Community Housing submitted an application to build nine homes on the green space between Adit Walk and Maendy Way in Pontnewydd in November 2016, but it was rejected by Torfaen County Borough Council’s planning committee in March.

The committee agreed to refuse the application due to its “detriment on existing residents” and the lack of quality open space in the ward.

Bron Afon have now decided to appeal the decision, with a decision to be made on November 8.

Residents are continuing to oppose the development, which would see the loss of the community green that has existed since the 1950s.

Richard Todd, of Adit Walk, said: “It’s such a small space, I don’t think it justifies losing it just for nine homes.

“It’s very important because that’s the only space we have got. There would be nowhere for kids to play and for people to walk their dogs.

“It’s so safe because you can see the green. The kids are right there.

“You are going to get a lot more pollution from the road. There would be a lot more traffic, and sometimes the roads struggle already to cope with the traffic.”

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas Symonds supported the planning committee’s decision.

He said: “I appreciate the need for social housing and appreciate the efforts Bron Afon are making to secure more homes.

“However, I feel that the loss of the open space at Adit Walk will have a significant impact on the lives of residents in the surrounding area.

“The design of housing in the area benefits from the open land at the front and therefore the loss of this space would have a significant impact.

“I would recommend those with a view on this make representations on the appeal, using acp.planninginspectorate.gov.uk”

Environmental group Torfaen Friends of the Earth (TFE) also object to the proposed development, and have submitted further concerns to the ones brought up at the planning committee meeting in March.

The group’s co-ordinator Carole Jacob has encouraged residents to voice their opinions to the Planning Inspectorate.

She said: “The inspectorate listens to the residents. They are the people that matter.

“It’s very important for to people to have, for their mental health and wellbeing as well as their physical wellbeing, an area of green space like this one.

“From a health and wellbeing point of view the area at Adit Walk is very important.

“There was a meeting for residents which was really well attended. The two councillors that spoke there were helpful and offered some very good advice.”

Greg Jones, Bron Afon’s head of development and regeneration, said: “The proposed development at Adit Walk will make a valuable contribution to provide 100 percent affordable housing as well as improving the remaining open space in an area of significant housing need.”