A COMMUNITY council has won its appeal over whether a greenfield site in a village could be used for housing.

Planning inspector Emyr Jones has allowed an appeal by Rogerstone Community Council for permission in principle to build 22 homes on Bethesda Field.

He said plans would not lead to an unacceptable loss of a greenfield site.

The Bethesda Field Action Group had claimed at a planning inquiry that the community council had deliberately not consulted with residents, but Mr Jones said he had considered the appeal on its planning merits.

The application for outline planning permission had been refused by Newport council’s planning committee.

Newport council had claimed at the inquiry that the proposal would be at odds with the open character of the site.

In his decision Mr Jones wrote that he considered the main issue to be whether the scheme would result in an “unacceptable loss of a greenfield site”.

He said although building 22 homes on an open field would not improve or complement any existing environmental qualities a significant area would remain undeveloped.

“While the appeal site is green field, it is not of high agricultural or ecological value,” he wrote.

Mr Jones said he understood the frustration the Bethesda Field Action Group had in resorting to the information commissioner to get information.

But he said: “Whilst the appelant is a commuity council which is ultimately answeable to its electorate, that is something which lies outside my jurisdiction.

He added: “I have considered the appeal on its individual planning merits.”

Group vows to fight on

THE chairman of the Bethesda Field Action Group said the group is now considering legal action over the plan.

“I am obviously disappointed,” said Ian Phillips, “but we still have options. We are in contact with our legal team, and investigations are ongoing.”

Newport and Rogerstone community councillor Tom Bond said: “At the first Rogerstone Community Council meeting of this term we proposed a vote against the sale, but we were defeated.

“We commend the Bethesda Field Action Group for their inspiring efforts in standing up for the people of Rogerstone”.

He added: “The people of Rogerstone shouldn’t be made to pay for the bad decisions made by the old administration of the community council.”