PLANS to build houses on the former Troy railway yard look to be nearing the end of the tracks.

Monmouth town councillors had the chance to give their opinion at Monday’s planning meeting (21st January) but it was similar to the recommendation they gave in June 2018 when they recommended refusal for a number of reasons.

The planning application to build the 26 houses on land next to Troy Gardens, together with car parking, landscaping and associated works, has been submitted by the applicant RDP Investments and is proposing to demolish the former gas governor PRS building and concrete bases to make way for the development.

Councillors felt the new homes were not in keeping with the adjacent housing and that the sewage infrastructure was insufficient for the 26 homes. Other concerns included the space allowed for the footpath through the site was insufficient.

This last objection was following Welsh Water’s letter stating that based on the information provided in the application, the site would: “hydraulically overload the existing public sewerage system and waste water treatment works, leading to pollution of the environment and risk to public health and safety.”

A site investigation report commissioned by RDP Ltd has confirmed a single concentration of arsenic at a half metre depth, derived possibly from the inclusion of ash and slag in the made-up ground.

Other contaminates include Beryllium, lead and benzo fluoranthene were found to be in excess of accepted levels.

No asbestos was detected in the site.

Given the elevated levels of toxic material, the report suggested capping the whole of the site with 2 feet of topsoil placed on top of a membrane to avoid disturbing the contaminants.

A spokesman for the residents of Troy Gardens said they objected to the plans because of the chaos and disruption the building site would create using the single access road through the housing estate and that the road itself is not suitable for being the only way in and out of an estate of 26 homes.

Councillor Sue White pointed out that the new houses would interfere with the access to the old tunnel under Gibraltar Hill.

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A member of the public confirmed that the tunnel, as with any building, would need remedial work from time to time to maintain it and access would be required. Councillors unanimously recommended refusal.