A CONSORTIUM be-hind plans for a £14 million motorsport centre and hotel complex in Torfaen have shifted their scheme to Glyn-Neath - saying that the council there were "more welcoming".

The Abergavenny-based businessmen are in talks to site the complex, which could have created up to 400 jobs, at Glyn-Neath after receiving opposition from local people.

Philip Evans, one of the directors behind the plan, said: "There were various obstacles before us going to Blaenavon. Common land-owners and people near the heritage site didn't want it.

"There were 300 to 400 jobs at stake. We had a number of councils asking for us and they were more welcoming than Torfaen council. "We did get a lot of support from local councillors in Blaenavon but more support from other councils than Torfaen.

"Now we have to finalise planning permission and we hope to start work in Glyn-Neath next year. We don't mind where it is. We just want to go where we are wanted."

Yesterday a council spokesman said: "They were proposing a very large off-road development. With an idea of this scale there are a lot of complicated issues to consider.

"Officers from several services meet the developers and raised a number of issues that would needs to be addressed. This is done to help developers before they submit a detailed plan.

"Issues to be considered included the impact on the world heritage site, noise and possible common land problems. Had the developers prepared a fuller plan, we could have given them some more helpful comments as we do with any proposal."

One local rider, Rob Cobley of the Pontypool Trials Club, said: "This is a shame.

"There are already problems with bikes riding illegally. This centre could have solved that."

Geoff White, head of planning at Neath Port Talbot council, confirmed they had held "positive meetings" with the group.