Monmouth town planners gave the public an opportunity to speak on the latest outline application for 180 homes to the east of Rockfield Road. The Taylor Wimpey plan to build houses to the rear of Vauxhall fields and close to the army camp was not received too well, despite the promise to allow for a recreational area on the opposite river bank to the Co-op supermarket with a bridge spanning the river for access to the town. Most of the comments at the planning meeting were relating to flooding and sewage concerns and the extra traffic congestion caused at peak times, with the long-standing arguments of a lack of school places, doctor and dental surgeries still holding strong. The modern style of houses are planned to have a car park space for each bedroom – up to three bedrooms – and one visitor space per five units; a Taylor Wimpey trip forecast estimated the number of two-way trips each day would be 921 for vehicles, 240 for pedestrians and 35 cycle trips. Councillor Graham Pritchard reminded those present that a previous meeting held at Rockfield Community Centre also highlighted the issues of flooding and sewerage and the fact that only two access roads was inadequate for 180 homes. Cllr Bob Hayward said that with only 34 school places available in Wyesham, and Overmonnow and Osbaston both full; "we either expect these parents to take their children to Wyesham, or put portable cabins in our existing school. "At the moment we have nice primary schools, if we start to cram these pupils in there, we lose the excellence of education we have in Monmouth," he said. "Natural growth in population does not account for these houses, the only reason these houses are being built is the pressure of people wanting to come and live in the town, as Monmouthshire is a nice place to live. "They are not building houses in places where they are needed. "The recreational area is just a sop, as the land is a cheap give-away on a flood plain and so can only be used for pasture land in summer and is just there to make the development look more attractive." Cllr Hayward said the site was never in the housing plan for Monmouth. "The application was pushed by the developer, but the Welsh Inspector said no and Monmouthshire County Council said no," he said. "We are already increasing the housing stock by 18 per cent with the plans already put through the development plan, these extra houses will make it up to 20 per cent, without a single increase in a parking space in the town centre, without a single extra place in our schools, without any increase in recreational facilities. "Monmouth will choke under all these developments, not just doctors and dentists, but the parking on our streets." Councillors voted to recommend the application for refusal on the grounds of the potential flooding, sewage problems, inadequate access, lack of infrastructure and the extra traffic generated by the plan. The plans will now go before county council planners for a decision.