An area of land used as playing fields in Trethomas looks set to receive protected ‘Village Green’ status.
The land is close to the former Bedwas Colliery site, which has been earmarked for development in Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Local Development Plan (LDP).
The council has been working with the Trethomas Conservation Group to identify an area of land which can be declared a ‘Village Green’ and be protected from any future development.
It has been agreed that the playing fields (known as the Cornfield site) will be allocated as a Village Green, along with land adjacent to a new access road due to be constructed onto the development site.
Cllr Ron Davies, local ward member and cabinet member for regeneration said: “The proposal to allocate this site as a Village Green will ensure that residents can enjoy the benefit of a protected area of community land that is safe from future development.
“We are aware that the reclamation plans for the old colliery site are a contentious issue and we are mindful of these concerns, but the Planning Inspector has agreed that the inclusion of the development scheme in the LDP was ‘sound’ and we now want to move forward and work with the local community to make the scheme work for all concerned.”
Mindful of the strong local opposition to the works at the old colliery site, the council has decided to set-up a liaison group of local residents.
The group will act as a watchdog to monitor the reclamation works.
The next full meeting of Caerphilly County Borough Council will now consider the matter.