COUNCILLORS have voted to visit Langford Road in Johnston, a proposed site for 26 affordable homes.

There were a number of concerns raised by local residents and committee member and Johnston Councillor Ken Rowlands who asked for the site visit.

It was highlighted that although there was a substantial need for affordable housing in the area, Welsh Water had asked that there would be no occupation of the homes until October 2017, when improvements to the sewage system have been made.

Andrew Vaughan-Harris, a resident of Johnston, spoke on behalf of the objectors saying: “I have been put forward to speak on their concerns about the suitability of the application.

“The residents respect that there is a need for affordable housing but they have some real dilemmas with the scale and location chosen for this development.

“The first concern is the sewage problem in Johnston and Natural Resources Wales have an objection but they have clarified there will be an upgrade in October 2017. We accept the sewage problem can be alleviated that no houses can be occupied until after that period.

“The main focus is highway safety, Langford Road is a busy road, it takes you to Llangwm, comes on to the trunk road, members will be aware we have a new school being built and I was told that the site of Langford Road was looked at for the school but it was thrown out because of a lack of safe access.

“We do need affordable housing and what we’ve got here is 26 houses which are being provided in Johnston but are taking up all the allocation for Rosemarket, Tiers Cross and Freystrop. It’s all being concentrated in Johnston and I think that is a bit of a shame because it lacks integration, why can’t those other hamlets have affordable housing? We’ve got a scheme which takes it all.

“We don’t object to the principle but the scale, access, density aren’t going to integrate and they think that is short-sightedness.”

Cllr Ken Rowlands said: “This has been ongoing for some considerable time and there is increasing anxiety experienced by my constituents.

“The new plans would involve reducing the height of banks belonging to the adjacent properties in order to achieve a line of sight to allow safe egress onto the site. These existing residents are complaining to me as their local member that they have no wish to have their properties disturbed. How then will the developer address the safety criteria and provide necessary width for safe access and egress without the permission of the property owners.

“Johnston Community Council is opposed to the application and suggests that permission should not be granted.”

Cllr Rowlands also read out the concerns of the Community Council stating: “They consider the proposals to be out of keeping with the existing area and not in line with the LDP. Existing traffic problems exist and the development would add to the existing difficulty.

“Safety concerns over the new entrance including lack of pavements at the exit onto Langford Road which would increase danger to pedestrians.

“There is concern over the apparent failure, to date, of Welsh Water to confirm the adequacy of the sewage infrastructure to cater for the proposed development.”

Cllr Rowlands continued: “However, overnight, I have heard that Welsh Water has now made comments. I feel that Welsh Water can be cavalier in their attitude to planning matters and I wish they would work much more closely with the planning authority with regards to developments because a lot of their inaction is causing a lack of developments as far as housing is concerned.

“With so many uncertainties in this application I feel that we as a planning authority would not be able to make a proper decision without having site of the area where we can all see for ourselves the effect increased traffic would have on Langford Road itself.”

The site visit was proposed and seconded but Cllr Jacob Williams didn’t think a site visit would be appropriate describing them as a waste of time.

When it went to the vote the site visit was approved by a majority with eight in favour and only Cllr Williams voting against.