PLANNING permission to build houses on a former Blaenau Gwent primary school site has been refused.

During a Blaenau Gwent planning committee meeting yesterday afternoon, members refused to grant permission for seven dwellings to be built on the former Cymcelyn Primary School site in Blaina.

The main reasons for the refusal were the detrimental impact the houses would have on ecology, in particular bat conservation. The vacant building on site has a small number of bats and councillors expressed concerns that if demolished the animals would be harmed.

Another concern was parking facilities for the nearby nature reserve including Cymcelyn ponds and the chapel nearby. During the meeting Councillor Lisa Winnett said: “A lot of people use the chapel for funerals and there will be nowhere for them to park, also parking facilities for the nature reserve would be impacted.”

Councillors also argued that the driveway of the houses would significantly restrict the amount of pavement space for pedestrians on the road that which is a busy highway.

The original application proposed that seven houses, three semi-detached properties, and one detached property, each with an integral garage, be built on the site of the old primary school that which has lain empty for quite some time and fallen into a state of disrepair due to theft and vandalism. The site is located at the corner of Cymcelyn Road and covers an area of approximately 1,460 sqm.

Despite reassurance from planning committee chairman, Cllr Dennis Owens and planning officersthat the pavement would not be restricted and the bats would be protected, councillors still voted against the plans.