A planned housing development is being opposed by neighbours of the vicarage due to be knocked down to make way for it.

Residents of Hillcrest Road in Wyesham are unhappy at plans to extend the cul de sac to accomodate 11 new houses and a replacement vicarage.

The application site is made up of the vicarage owned by the Diocese of Hereford and the former Western Power Company distribution depot.

The depot's existing entrance off Wyesham Road is not deemed safe enough for a road junction, hence the extension of Hillcrest Road.

Alistair Rimmer, who lives with his parents Fred and Liz next door to the vicarage, said facing the new road would be "like looking down a runway".

"Every car that comes down that road at night will light up our house like a Christmas tree," he said.

Mr Rimmer is also facing a dilemma over the property's boundary.

"We can either put up a fence to the height of the existing hedge [belonging to the vicarage] or leave the small fence up and have people looking straight into our house," he added.

"The problem with a big fence is it would make it dangerous for us reversing off our drive – with the new road layout we would be reversing into the flow of traffic."

Colin and Jacqueline Jones, who live on the other side of the vicarage, received a letter informing them of the proposals at the end of January and immediately went to look at the plans.

"We will be losing the turning area but the plans appear to be taking some of my property – but we will not be negotiating," said Colin.

"We have met with planning officers and they are going away to redesign the corner – it looks very steep and narrow, and the first house is going to overlook us.

"We were the only ones to receive a letter and the only site notice is on the gates off the Wyesham Road so none of us had seen it.

"It would have been couteous to put a notice on the vicarage gate so everyone could see it."

Residents are concerned about the expected increase in traffic and the suitability of the cul de sac for heavy vehicles during construction.

They are also worried the development will have a negative impact on house prices in the road.

Monmouth Town Council has recommended refusal of the plans and Gwent Wildlife Trust has issued a formal holding objection to be withdrawn when a bat survey and reptile survey have taken place, and mitigation proposals for badgers are in place.