ONE of the objections to the 2008 plans to convert Troy House into 23 apartments with an extra 31 apartments built on has been the access to the Grade II* listed 16th century building.

In August 2017, Monmouth Town Council recommended to reject the application openly on the grounds of concern over the vehicle access not being safe enough.

The plans are due to come before Monmouthshire County Council’s (MCC) planning committee in the near future and a possible solution to the problem has been suggested by a local farmer.

Mitchel Troy Community Council, who recommended refusal of the application in November 2017, has heard of a proposed alternative access of a new entrance between the Trothy Bridge and the Toll House, crossing the field and avoiding the current drive which would provide a much safer entrance and exit onto the B road and avoid conflict with farm traffic.

Their main concern is for road safety and consider the existing access on the bend is dangerous when approached from Mitchel Troy.

They also believe the existing farm track is inadequate for construction traffic and the increased vehicle flow that will result from 54 properties.

The present vehicular access onto the main road is via the farm drive, owned by Irving Long the neighbouring farmer, who has questioned a recent traffic survey by Clarkbond which said that “between 2012 and 2017 there had been no traffic incidents in the immediate vicinity”.

Agents for Mr Long say that there have been three incidents on the junction leading to Troy House and fears that a heightened use of the access would have safety implications along the farm track which serves the operation of Troy Farm.

They continue to argue that the increase of traffic utilising the narrow track would have a detrimental impact on the economic viability of the farm enterprise.

The agents also maintain that Troy House only has access rights to the mansion and that a proposed widening of the drive does not have the farmer’s consent.

The owners of Troy Lodge, once the gatehouse for the former convent and school say that the proposal will “likely incur a 20 fold increase in traffic” over present day movements and the bend is ‘notoriously dangerous” with “numerous accidents” including a couple of crashes into the barrier protecting their house.

Craig O’Connor, MCC planning officer dealing with the application said that the plans ( DC/2008/00723) will probably be discussed by MCC’s planning committee in February with an officer recommendation for approval. He said they were “aware of the proposed alternative access” but was basing his recommendation on the proposal put forward by the applicant Peter Carroll in 2008.