A NEW date has been announced for a meeting that will consider the future of green belt land between Sepastopol and Cwmbran.

Torfaen council’s extraordinary meeting to discuss its local development plan will now take place on Tuesday, October 23, at 4pm in the Council Chamber.

The meeting was originally scheduled for September 13 but had to be postponed for the council to seek independent legal advice into the complex issues which were due to be discussed.

The extraordinary meeting will consider a report from the chief Planning and public protection officer Duncan Smith and members will be informed about further issues relating to the plan following the ‘Focused Changes’ consultation.

Members will also hear about concerns raised by the plan inspector at the exploratory meeting, which was held on July 24, and his subsequent decision letter on the outcome of that meeting and recent correspondence between the council and the Welsh government.

The meeting will consider plans to bring South Sebastopol back into the plan following the planning inspector’s recommendation.

Campaigners have been battling for 16 years to protect their green space on the farm and woodland near Cwmbran Drive.

Back in February they welcomed the news that Torfaen council had decided to remove the wedge of land, which separates Sebastopol and Cwmbran from its plan.

But the announcement was shortly followed by an appeal from the consortium of developers, including Asbri Planning, Barratt Homes and the Welsh Development Agency who had proposed to build 1,200 homes on the land.

Torfaen council rejected the plans on July 21 last year following issues regarding highways, transport, access and circulation and surrounding green wedges of land.

The consortium appealed against the decision and a planning inquiry is set to be held in January next year.

In the extraordinary meeting members will have to decide how the council wishes to respond to the planning inspector’s recommendation to withdraw the plan through considerations relating to South Sebastopol.

The council will be televising the meeting live in the ceremony room in the Civic Centre that afternoon.

The agenda and appropriate reports will be issued on October 15, and will include the opportunity for members of the public to submit questions or petitions.

Questions must be received by the council by 4pm on Thursday, October 18, and petitions by 4pm on Friday, October 19.