PLANS to open a gun shop in a Cwmbran village have been dealt a blow after the planning committee at Torfaen council refused to grant permission.

Only one councillor in the chamber did not vote in favour of refusing the application, which will now go back to the drawing board for the applicant.

Councillors met to discuss the latest instalment of the discussion on the gun shop, which was last put before the planning committee last month.

During the meeting, Helen Smith from the planning office at Torfaen council outlined the reasons behind why the application was being refused.

“The use of this premises for retail purposes results in an unjustified loss of an industrial and employment premises,” she said.

“The premises does not provide adequate off street parking spaces for the retail use in conjunction with the existing industrial uses on the site, which would result in an increase in demand for on street parking in an area where there is already a high demand for high parking to the detriment of highway safety and residential amenity.”

Following an enforcement complaint in March 2016, Torfaen council were made aware that a gun shop had opened in the Pontnewydd area without planning permission.

The unit was previously classed as 'industrial use' and a change of use to an ‘A1’ retail use was required.

This was later received, in a retrospective planning application, under the brand ‘The Gunshop UK’, based at Croftwick House on Chapel Street.

Three objection letters, along with comments from community councillor Bob Jones were received as a result, expressing concerns about parking on the site and the sale of firearms, ammunition and hunting knives.

The security of the building was also listed as a major concern, with the sale of weaponry in an urban location and residential area including a primary school being listed as “unwise” and “unnerving”.

Cllr Brian Mawby, the chair of the committee, who represents the Pontnewydd ward, left his chair as the head of the meeting in order to speak on the matter.

“I think what is being presented as reasons for our refusal actually reflect the debate we had at the last meeting,” he said.

Cllr Mawby added that he was content with the reasons given during the committee meeting as to reasons why the application was and is refused.