RESIDENTS have lost their battle to persuade planners not to allow the garages they use to be demolished.

County planners have agreed a proposal for 25 "vacant" garages in Portskewett to be be pulled down to clear the way for four "affordable" homes.

Local county councillor Peter Fox told Monmoutshire Council's planning committee it was "misleading" to say the garages were empty.

Monmouthshire Housing Association was given the permission it needed to build the two-bedroom homes in Southbrook View.

Councillor Fox said: "I have no issue with providing affordable housing, but I have an issue with the misleading information contained in the application.

"The word vacant should be removed as some tenants have had these garages for 40 years. 

"There is also a notification from the council's highways department that the road is extremely narrow and this could prove problematical."

The planning committee was told 11 of the garages were in full use – five statutory off-road vehicles, three vintage cars and four motorbikes were being stored.

All the other garages were being used as lock ups for storage.

Pensioner Terry Gardner, representing the residents said: "They are very worried about the proposal, especially during the construction phase as the road is only seven feet wide.

"If the vehicles ousted from the garages park on the road then this will cause problems for the emergency vehicles arriving on a daily basis. 

"We understand that people need houses to live in, but this is such an impractical place to build them, when there are more appropriate plots around to use for development."

Councillor Tony Griffiths speaking on behalf of Portskewett Community Council said: "We can't understand how this application has go so far without being checked as these garages are not vacant.

"While the vista will change dramatically for residents already living in the area, it is not a planning concern ­– but the parking issue is. Parking in this area is problematical at the best of times and the garage area acts as an overflow car park.

"Without it the area will get worse with even more vehicles parking half on the road and half on the pavement." 

Supporting the application, Councillor Phil Hobson said: "We have a serious problem in Monmouthshoire over the availability of affording homes. We have a moral duty to allow the construction of such schemes and I will support this one, but the failure to consult with residents is not acceptable."

Councillor James George said: "We have to consider the application in a proper manner and the big thing for me on this one is that it's inaccurate and the lack of consultation is not good enough. The residents should have been told."

Ian Atkinson from Monmouthshire Housing Association said that the lack of consultation was down to the timing of a Welsh Government grant, which stipulated that work needs to start on site in March.