AFTER a 16-year battle to protect their green space, campaigners are preparing to fight an appeal by developers who want to build on the Sebastopol site.

In February, Torfaen council removed the wedge of land, which separates Sebastopol and Cwmbran, from its local development plan.

Torfaen Friends of the Earth member Carole Jacob said: “Torfaen council’s decision to remove South Sebastopol from their list of building sites was predictably followed by an appeal from the developers to the Welsh Government.

“If they win this appeal they will have the go-ahead to desecrate the area with 1,200 houses.

“People now have a very important opportunity to show the strength of feeling against the developers’ proposals to join Pontnewydd to Sebastopol and ruin a beautiful greenfield site, clog our roads and cause havoc to our wildlife.”

Comments must be submitted to Torfaen council by 4.30pm on Friday, May 18.

Torfaen Friends of the Earth will be holding two drop-in evenings to give people the chance to fill in the official form and help them with any issues they may have.

The first evening will be held on Tuesday, May 15, at West Pontnewydd Community Hall (behind the Yew Tree Pub in Maendy Way), Cwmbran from 8.15pm to 9.45pm.

The second will take place the following day at Panteg House, Greenhill Road, Griffithstown, from 7pm to 9pm.

Carole Jacob added: “It is very important that the Welsh Government Planning inspector knows the strength of feeling against building on South Sebastopol.

“There is a whole load of work we still need to do.Wehave won two battles, but still have the war to go.

“The right decision has been taken and people need to get behind it to ensure it is followed through.

“This is not the end of the journey but the beginning of another.”

The application to build 1,200 new homes on the farm and woodland near Cwmbran Drive – submitted by a consortium of developers including Asbri Planning, Barratt Homes and the Welsh Development Agency – was rejected by the council last July.