Controversial plans for a new housing estate on Wonastow Road met with disapproval when residents clashed with officers from Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) at a public meeting last week.

The proposal to build 400 houses and a number of industrial units (Beacon 19th January) is not proving popular as issues such as flooding and the increasing burden on the town's schools and health provisions were raised.

Cabinet member Bob Greenland welcomed the public to the Rockfield Community Centre last Thursday (20th January) and introduced George Ashworth, MCC's head of planning, and Martin Davies, development plans manager.

He said the Local Development Plan (LDP) was at present in its consultation stage, and that anyone can make representations for or against the proposals.

It would then have a final submission before members of MCC, who would then recommend it to the Welsh Assembly's appointed inspectorate for the final decision.

If successful, it would then come back for ratification to MCC and be implemented around 2012.

Cllr Greenland said there was a guideline set by the Welsh Assembly on the number of houses that should be provided in Monmouthshire and along with their own surveys, members decided to build 350 houses in the county area each year for the next 10 years.

They would look at providing houses in the main conurbations of Monmouth, Chepstow, Caldicot and Abergavenny.

"Officers considered various candidate sites and for each of the areas, a preferred site was identified," he explained.

"Each site will be subject to the scrutiny of a normal planning application, including biodiversity plans, the same as any other planning application."

Local resident Idwal Powell then took Cllr Greenland to task by saying an official of the Welsh Assembly, told him in 2006 that "those houses were going by me".

George Ashworth then set some background for the site.

"It is always very difficult to find ground for housing," he said, "and there is always total opposition to any plans, and I don't blame people for that, I would feel the same way if there was a green field next to me planned for housing".

"MCC have to build 400 houses per year, the majority should be in the town, it is a sensible planning approach to try and put them in the main urban areas," he explained.

He was aware of Monmouth Town Council's concern regarding the unfair proportion of these houses going locally.

Showing figures that went back to 1961, he illustrated that if this proposal went ahead, Monmouth would have a growth of 22.9 per cent compared to Chepstow's 25 per cent.

"The emerging document talks about 821 houses for Monmouth but it gives a broad indication that what is planned for Monmouth is not untoward compared to the other main towns," he added.

"Household sizes in Monmouth for 2001 were 2.18 per household, this is projected to fall down to 1.89 in 2021.

"In 2006, the number of residents in Monmouth was 9,300, and if you have exactly the same number of houses, the population will decrease."

Monmouth would need an extra 541 houses just for the population to remain the same.

"We work with the education department and the figures projected are that if all the houses were to be built, then Monmouth Comprehensive School would have the right number in line with its capacity.

"By 2021, the school would have 1,740 pupils on its books, one more than its capacity.

"The primary school figure is different, showing a shortfall of 120 places, the schools would be too small.

"But I would not expect this level of development to take place without investment in primary schools, doctors surgeries, roads and drainage.

"There would be an opportunity within infill areas in Monmouth itself for 400 houses, leaving a shortfall of 400 houses to be found on the outskirts.

"This is the least bad site in Monmouth town. If this sight does not go ahead, the great danger is that alternative sites would have to be found.

"The geography of Monmouth means it is well nigh impossible, to put houses elsewhere and we at the council feel if it shows it is technically feasible, it is the best site, which is up for debate.

"This site would also be a genuine attempt to increase the employment potential in Monmouth, not shared by other sites around the town

"In terms of the viability of the town centre, this is partly because the town has grown in the past and the council want to continue that process but not with any undue circumstances, hence the need for this debate tonight."

Resident Mike Jones said that a year ago, officers promised to produce evidence that "necessary drainage and water can be demonstrably shown to be safeguarded from flooding".

"There is no evidence in your latest report that you can hold back any water coming off that ground," he said.

He quoted the Atkins report which stated they could not safeguard Wonastow Road, it will flood year upon year.

George Ashworth replied that the evidence was increasing in the detail as the stages were developed.

"In principle, there are not any insurmountable objects to that site," he said.