Torfaen councillors reject village green application

The land was part of Llantarnam School, which closed in 2015

An application to designate a Torfaen field a village green has been refused.

Cwmbran resident Lynn Morgan wanted land known as Llantarnam School playing field added to Torfaen council's register of town and village greens.

If she had been successful, it would have put restrictions on any potential future developments on the site, which is earmarked for 226 homes.

Councillors rejected her application because, they said, "it did not meet the criteria" necessary for approval.

A council spokesman said after the meeting on Thursday: "A report prepared by an independent inspector, who heard evidence in a public inquiry lasting three days (in July 2017), found this land did not sufficiently meet the criteria to be classed as a village green.

"It was recommended that the application be refused on this basis which the licensing sub-committee unanimously accepted and the application has been refused."

The spokesman added there was no right to appeal against the decision.

In her application, Mrs Morgan had said: "I have canvassed local people and know that they feel as strongly as I do about the prospect of losing this valuable area."

At last year's public inquiry, people living close to the former Llantarnam School field expressed concerns about a development being built on the land.

Torfaen council said it had already spent £30,000 on fees to the planning inspector, legal costs and required advertising, not including "the significant amount of officer time from numerous council departments".

A town or village green can be registered if "a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality... have indulged as of right in lawful sports and pastimes on the land for a period of at least 20 years".

A report by barrister Ruth Stockley following the public inquiry said Mrs Morgan had failed to demonstrate this and recommended the council reject the application.