MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council’s planning committee has approved the controversial plans to demolish the old vicarage in Wyesham to build houses.

The application for the development of 11 new houses and a new vicarage was deferred in 2013 following community concerns surrounding contamination and ecological issues.

The application was approved by the Planning Committee on Tuesday 6th December subject to the securing four units of affordable housing on the site and an extensive list of conditions.

Among these conditions are a site investigation into the nature and extent of contamination which must be approved and a report specifying the measures to be taken to remediate the site to render it suitable for the development if contamination is found.

Approved method statements to protect local wildlife are also required.

Before approval a number of councillors voiced their opinion of the decision which should be made.

Member for Wyesham Councillor Liz Hacket-Pain asked for a deferral to address the concerns of the residents of Wyesham 278 who signed a petition against the development. Their three major concerns were contamination, subsidence and access to Hillcrest Road.

Monmouth Town councillor for Wyesham Stuart Wilson spoke for residents in favour of application, residents who he said have felt forced to sign the petition and did, but were also concerned about contamination.

Cllr Wilson said: “We understand the contamination issues on the site but we want to see them resolved rather than let them carry on, and as far as they can see development is the only way that will happen.”