Fears that Raglan could lose its status as a village were expressed at last week's public meeting, held to discuss Monmouthshire County Council's new Local Development Plan.

Concerned that local residents might not be aware of the meeting, Raglan Conservation Group had distributed flyers around the village, urging people to attend.

They were rewarded with a turn out of over 100.

"It was good to see so many people at the meeting," Raglan Community Councillor, Trevor Phillips, told the Beacon.

Acting Development Plans Manager, Martin Davies, outlined the various options detailed in the new Local Development Plan, which sets out objectives and policies for the use of land and the protection of the environment in the county, including Raglan.

Villagers are particularly concerned about the potential to develop 20 hectares of land adjacent to the roundabout, which, if successful, would see Raglan double in size.

"This would destroy our village," Amanda Vaughan, Secretary of Raglan Conservation Group, told the Beacon.

"We, as a Group, agree there has to be growth but it has to be in proportion to the size of the village, and when all the infrastructure is in place.

"The new school has been put on hold, which means that people can't move into the village because they can't get into the school."

Martin Davies commented: "The site in question is an option for future development which is derived from a number of candidate sites suggested by developers and land owners for consideration in the Local Development Plan.

"It has the potential to have strategic significance because of its size. 

"We have carried out no other assessments of the site at this stage."

Members of the public were asked to choose their preferred option out of four strategic spatial options summarised in a report presented to the meeting.

The majority voted for Option C, whose main objective would be to achieve a more even spread of development across towns and villages, in order to provide opportunities for more affordable housing in rural areas and help sustain existing communities.

The Plan is set to be submitted to the Welsh Assembly Government in late 2010 and will be followed by an independent examination the following spring, with the Inspector's report published and the Plan adopted in late 2011.