MORE than 100 residents in Gilwern have lodged objections to a proposal to build a 92 house development on green belt land.

The housing developer Charles Church East Wales lodged an application with the Brecon Beacons National Park’s planning authority to build the homes, together with a new road, public open space and recreational space on land at Cae Meldon, behind Lancaster Drive.

However residents fear that the development will put further strain on already struggling infrastructure and services in the village, including the primary school which only has three places left and the doctors surgery.

Those living near to the proposed site are concerned that the estate will be too big and over-bearing on their properties.

One resident said: “The schools are oversubscribed and the surgery is not taking any more patients so what will happen to those moving into the new homes.”

Monmouth MP David Davies has written to the authority’s director of planning to express the widespread concerns of residents.

He said: “The doctor’s surgery at the moment cannot cope with the number of residents and has an average of a two-week waiting time for an appointment.”

“There is no public service transport in the area or proposals in place to support any residents.”

Other concerns include the small lanes that link the site to the village, increased traffic and the ‘unacceptable’ distance between existing homes at both Lancaster Drive and Broadmead.

He added: “The additional lighting from the large site will light up the whole valley from Crickhowell.”

Residents say the design and layout of homes is bland and also raise concerns about the effect on the local wildlife and ecology, with a considerable loss of trees.

Agent, Asbri Planning, said the development on the land, currently used for grazing, is not highly visible as it is on a slope and will be screened by trees and hedgerows and includes 18 affordable homes. It believes that the overall appearance of the development will be in keeping with an edge of settlement location and serve population growth within the region.

The application is due to be considered by the planning committee on July 29.