PLANS to build houses in the village of Glynneath have been approved by the local authority despite a number of concerns from residents.
The plans, which could see three “modest” houses developed on land to the west of Danygraig Lane, between Glan Gwrelych and Ynys Y Nos Avenue were given the go-ahead at a planning committee held by Neath Port Talbot Council in January.
It will now see three detached properties built with associated works in an area just off Merthyr Road on an “irregular parcel of land” near a site which has about 40 other houses.
The plans were brought before members of the committee at the request of Cllr Simon Knoyle of the Glynneath Central and East ward, who said he and other residents had concerns over highways and access issues in the area, as well as the proximity of the site to a former coal tip.
Fears from Cllr Knoyle and a member of the public who spoke at the meeting revolved around extra pressures put on a single track access road in the village which was described as having poor visibility, and was said to have seen a number of “near misses” and accidents which were not reported.
They also felt the proximity of the site to a coal tip, which they said had slipped as recently as 2017, was a big concern. However, a representative speaking on behalf of the applicant said the coal authority had raised no objections to the plans, with only two accidents having been logged on the road in more than 20 years.
Officers recommended the application for approval, saying the site was on the opposite side of a railway embankment which divided it from the coal tip, noting the tip was regularly surveyed by the coal authority and would identify any issues going forward.
Following a lengthy debate, members voted to approve the plans with conditions with a vote of six to three. It came after a separate vote not to go ahead with a site visit.
