PLANS to demolish Blaina’s Kings Head Hotel to make way for housing for people suffering from depression and anxiety will go before Blaenau Gwent councillors this week.

The plans are recommended for approval despite a petition containing 62 signatures from residents concerned about the kind of tenants set to move into the development.

United Welsh Housing Association has applied for permission to demolish the Kings Head Hotel – which has stood empty for several years – and 136 High Street in Blaina and build a three-storey building containing seven flats and offices in its place.

Councillors on Blaenau Gwent’s planning committee will be told on Thursday that the flats will be occupied by people with “low-level support needs”, such as anxiety or depression, who will be supported by staff in the offices of the new building.

Staff would help tenants with budgeting and household skills, getting employment, education and training, and accessing other community resources.

It is thought tenants would stay for around two years before being moved into permanent accommodation without support.

But a petition signed by 62 people says residents are concerned the prospective tenants are “people who cannot care for themselves”.

It adds: “There are seven premises within a quarter- mile radius of this site providing accommodation for people with learning difficulties and/or mental health problems and we feel that to have more in such a small community would be detrimental to our homes and families.”

But the planning report says the tenants are “not a material planning consideration”.

The plans are recommended for approval with conditions.