I SUPPORT the Llantarnam Village Residents Association campaign to have this application call-in by the Assembly to allow for a strategic review of the impact of residential development along the M4.

Numerous developments throughout Newport, Torfaen, and Monmouthshire will result in thousands of additional vehicles feeding onto an already heavily congested and regularly gridlocked M4; all agreed in isolation of each other – with no consideration of their accumulative impact.

I was appalled by the total disregard for the heritage within the Llantarnam Abbey historic parkland. The protection defined within Torfaen Council’s LDP was disregarded in a “we have destroyed some, we shall destroy it all” attitude.

A rich heritage ranging from the bronze age, through Roman, medieval right up to World War 2, destroyed for further housing, that will not address most of the borough’s housing needs. During 2015, we shall commemorate the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe.

In Torfaen, they will destroy the site of a marshalling camp where many brave soldiers spent the last weeks of their lives, before joining the D Day campaign and beginning the march towards Victory in Europe.

Paul Williams, Community Councillor, Llantarnam Ward