Concerns have been raised by the Welsh Government about plans to tackle air quality issues on one of Wales’ most polluted streets.
Senior councillors in Caerphilly have heard that their preferred plan of action, which avoids the demolition of 23 homes on Hafodyrynys Road, Crumlin, would not be accepted by ministers.
This ‘do minimum’ approach, which relies on predictions that vehicle emissions will improve over time without the need for local intervention, was backed at cabinet on March 27.
Cllr Eluned Stenner said public health was “paramount”, but there was a “moral obligation” to ensure residents would not be left in financial hardship if their homes were demolished.
“These are not just bricks and mortar, these are people’s homes,” added the cabinet member for environment and public protection.
But on the same day, the Welsh Government emailed the council saying that the option was “not viable” and could be challenged.
Caerphilly council is under pressure to meet targets as soon as possible, having recorded higher levels of nitrous dioxide than anywhere except central London in 2015 and 2016.
Demolishing homes in Woodside Terrace, Yr Adfa and the Woodside Shops would help achieve targets by 2023, whereas the ‘do minimum’ option is expected to bring compliance by 2025.
This would also involve the council paying market valuation for each property through compulsory purchase orders.
Cabinet agreed that if demolition was forced upon them, extra funding was needed from the Welsh Government to ensure affected residents would not be left in “financial hardship”.
Deputy council leader Barbara Jones expressed concerns about the “tone and lateness” of the Welsh Government’s correspondence.
Cllr Jones said: “Not one of us wants to push anyone into poverty.
“These aren’t just homes, this is a community, people who have lived next to and have known each other for years.
“How many of these people are going to find another house of that value close to where they’ve lived and brought up their children?”
Caerphilly council is now preparing to launch a ten-week public consultation on the air quality plan following the cabinet decision.
The Welsh Government has been contacted for comment.