A "FORGOTTEN" area in Pill allowed to go to "rack and ruin" could be brought back to life as planning permission is sought to rid the area of its reputation.

Newport City Homes has submitted a planning application to transform the "rabbit warren" around Williams Close, Raglan Court, Coulson Close and Francis Drive in Pill into a safer, cleaner and more attractive environment for residents.

The £5 million redevelopment project has been five years in the making and has involved Pill residents both young and old.

Planning permission will be the final step before the housing associations can appoint contractors and start work to improve one of Newport's most deprived areas.

Plans include 'opening up' the 200-home area of Pill by creating more space between homes, changing road-layouts, lowering fences and moving garages.

It is hoped this will reduce anti-social behaviour and increase safety.

Pill resident Gill Healey, who has lived in the area for 33 years, said one of the main problems is access for emergency services.

She said: "It's a rabbit warren, it was allowed to go to rack and ruin. There was virtually no repairs done and we started getting the gangs and the drug dealers hanging around. It's been forgotten.

"If we have it done how we want it done, it's going to make it easier for emergency services to get to the flats. That's been a big issue from day one.

"It's not about my generation, it's for the next generation."

Ms Healey said she has had five fires underneath her flat but said despite the problems, she loves the area and does not want to move.

"It's a lovely estate, there's some lovely people down there," she added.

Her friend Jenny Powell, who has lived in the area for 16 years, agreed: "Where I live I haven't got as much of a problem as Gill. I've been offered a bungalow but I don't want to go, I love it here.

"When I first got a place here, I didn't even know there was an estate there. I had to go into the police station and ask them where it was. It was so off the map."

The pair have been involved in shaping plans since the beginning and think other people are reluctant as they "heard it all before".

Pillgwenlly was built in the early 1900s and underwent a transformation during the 1960s and 70s when the terraced streets were replaced with, at the time, an award-winning estate.

It is now however generally thought that the design in the area has been instrumental in an increase in deprivation and crime, as well as causing access issues for emergency service vehicles.

Newport City Homes is holding a festival in Pill to get people engaged with the project, who might not have wanted to before.

Pill Fest will take place from March 30 to April 12 and from April 8 to April 10 at the basketball courts in Francis Drive.

It will be held in partnership with Communities First, Newport City Council, Positive Futures Sports Development and IZone and activities will include football, hair and beauty tutorials, upcycling demonstrations, sport coaching and Newport Gwent Dragons sessions.

Regeneration teams will be at the event to consult with people on the planning recommendations to be considered.

Call Alison Godwin on 01633 227750 for more information.