PLANS for a five-bedroom shared house in Abersychan, Pontypool, have been deferred amid concerns over parking and bathroom facilities.

The proposal seeks to convert a two-storey detached house in Station Street into a house in multiple occupation (HMO) for up to five households.

Shared facilities including a bathroom and kitchen are proposed on the ground floor, with bedrooms planned upstairs.

Ward councillors Giles Davies and Lynda Clarkson, as well as the community council, have objected to the plans with concerns over a lack of parking spaces.

However planning officers have recommended approval, and say the lack of parking is mitigated by the location being near to transport links, shops and facilities.

At a Torfaen council planning committee meeting on Thursday, Cllr Gwyn Jenkins said parking in the area is “at a premium”.

“We need to listen to people in the area,” Cllr Jenkins said.

“The two ward members are totally against it and the residents are totally against it.”

Claire Hall, from the council’s planning department, said the authority did not receive many objections from local residents though.

Cllr Stuart Ashley said he was ‘horrified’ by the idea of having one bathroom between five households.

“Most modern set-ups have at least two toilets and one bathroom and not to have that horrifies me,” he said.

Cllr Veronica Crick also raised concerns over the facilities proposed in the application.

“I read this and thought it was like student accommodation in the sixties,” she said.

“We need to have facilities people would expect to live independently.”

Ms Hall said that a HMO licence application is also required, and that this would consider whether the arrangements for the kitchen and bathroom complied with standards.

Councillors agreed to defer the application until information about what is required to comply with the HMO licence is obtained, and so that a site visit can be carried out.

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