PROTESTERS hoping to block housing plans they claim will destroy Pontywaun village face an anxious wait to learn if their campaign is successful.

Members of the Crosskeys and Pontywaun Residents' Association want a bid by the Trustees of Llanover Estates to renew outline planning permission for the development on land off Hillary Rise turned down.

Caerphilly council's planning committee voted against officers' recommendations to grant - opting to delay the decision for three weeks.

Eleven residents held a peaceful protest outside the council's Tredomen offices - and held placards saying 'Green fields not concrete jungle' and 'Do not destroy our village' - during the meeting.

The council also received 10 letters of objection and a 43-signature petition, saying the development would increase traffic, pollution and congestion, and cause land drainage problems. Locals also say the setting of nearby listed buildings and the character of the conservation area should be protected.

The original report to the planning committee in 1999 recommended approval but after a site meeting committee members resolved to refuse the application.

After an appeal by the applicant consent was granted. However, after a three-year period the applicant must renew the outline consent.

Crosskeys councillor Michael Gray urged the committee to carefully consider refusal and told members the land "should not be developed on for any purpose".

Councillor Stan Jenkins said: "The entire community objects to the proposals and, should it go ahead, then a conservation area will be lost if the field is developed as it will become a street, then a town".

Lynne Rees, a spokeswoman for the residents' association, said afterwards the 50-strong group would appeal if outline permission is granted.

"The community is against it, we have the support of our AM, MP and local councillor," she said.

"We feel victimised. If it goes ahead it will be catastrophic - another loss of a greenfield site."

Vivian Ashfield, who lives at The Homestead, the former colliery manager's house and a Grade II Listed building, said: "We don't want this development.

"It will dilute the impact of the conservation area if there are modern houses in the middle of it. The community will be devastated. A lot of people will be overlooked. My house is nearly 100 years old and the colliery houses would be on the other side of the site."

A decision is expected to be made at the next meeting of the planning committee in three weeks time.