MORE THAN 30 people attended a public meeting on Tuesday night to air concerns over a proposed housing development in Torfaen.

The application for 40 homes on three acres of land in Talywain has been temporarily withdrawn to allow for further investigation into its impact on the ecology of the area.

But residents were invited to discuss any other concerns they have before the new plan is submitted.

Mike and Hannah Price, whose Pisgah Road property backs on to the site, fear the development will affect their privacy as the homes are on land which is higher than their property.

Mr Price, said: “From your point of view as the architect, you have the minimum 21-metre space between the properties but you won’t do anything more.

“I’m not against the plan but it feels like too much is being squeezed in.”

Mrs Price added: “It could also devalue our property as now we can relax freely in the garden, I won’t feel the same with a house overlooking us.”

Other residents stressed that the proximity of the development to their outlying wall could risk causing subsidence.

Another issue raised was about the safety of the proposed entrance to the site which would be on a curve of Albert Road ,with one resident describing it as ‘dangerous and waiting for an accident to happen’.

However many felt that site agent Karl Lewis, who attended the meeting at Pisgah Baptist Church, had taken their issues on board.

Mr Lewis, of Letrucco Design, said: “Overall I think the meeting was positive and people do seem happy that I have made the effort to speak to them.

“The highways agency has done checks on the entrance to the site and it has been deemed fine. I will be making changes to the drainage near to Pisgah Road and have assured the residents that the development will not lead to subsidence.”

Mr Lewis, who is acting agent for landowners the Steadman brothers, also confirmed there will be no increase on the 40 homes when the new plan is submitted within two months.

Carol Watkins, of Pisgah Road, said: “As far as I’m concerned, it’s good to tidy the area up as that site has been neglected. If it’s done sympathetically, there are advantages to it that it will clean it up but it doesn’t affect us aesthetically.”