MONMOUTHSHIRE County Council is set to consider an application which could see a Premier Inn, a Brewers Fayre Restaurant and a Costa Coffee coming to a site in Llanfoist.

An application from Johnsey Estates Ltd for its Westgate site in the village, is set to come before MCC's planning committee in early January for a complex which would include a 61 room budget hotel and 21 car parking spaces.

 The initial application was submitted in 2008, with outline permission for the site granted in 2010. Over the past three years developers have been working on plans for the construction, and these have now been submitted to MCC for consideration. 

The reports were composed by Derek Ball, of RPS Planning and Development Ltd, Cardiff, and aim to 'provide a comprehensive offer for the public travelling along the A465' as well as a being ' an important local facility serving the Llanfoist area'.

Residents however are less than enamoured of the latest development plans for the village.

Local man Paul Rennie, has also expressed his concern at the lack of information the public has received regarding the development, and feels that Monmouthshire County Council has been 'underhanded' in its dealings with the proposal. 

"The reason most people are not aware of this hugely significant approval is that not only did the application receive no public consultation whatsoever, the planning application itself was entitled 'Alterations and improvements to the existing highway network," said Mr Rennie.

 "There was no mention at all of a hotel, fast food or public house. The planning committee clearly didn't think it unusual that there should be not one single objection to this application."

George Ashworth, head of planning at Monmouthshire County Council said, "Due to the fact the development site does not have any neighbours as such, we have not sent out letters to individual households. However we have written to community councils, and have welcomed discussion from them on this potential development, and allow them to inform the residents in their areas of any concerns." 

The announcement of outline planning sparked concern in a number of local groups, and many, such as the Transition Town, Llanfoist Community Council, and the Abergavenny Civic Society, have joined forces to oppose the development.

 One key reason for the anger at the proposed development is the lack of traditional design and fears that the development could have a negative impact on the businesses in Llanfoist and Abergavenny itself.

Mr Rennie said, "The design shows a total disregard for the sensitive location, having been churned out by a consultant in Sheffield, and with a generic design you see throughout the UK."

"The economic impact on existing businesses in Abergavenny town centre is not considered worthy of any report. 

"I fully support generating business opportunities in the area but can we really not have something that builds on, rather than undermines our unique environment?"  

"Is this sort of highly homogenous motorway service station offering  a suitable gateway for a town that markets itself on its food festival?  

"How about some local food production units with café outlets creating a whole new approach to roadstop catering that would really put Abergavenny on the map and put money into the local economy?" 

County Councillor Martin Hickman, who represents Llanfoist, said, "I have had a lot of people contacting with their concerns over the development, and the key issue I can see is the design. People don't want a building that can be picked up from anywhere dropped on the landscape that we have here.

"It is right at the entrance to Llanfoist, Abergavenny and the Heritage Site, so it needs to be sympathetic to the surroundings of the town and village.

"I think if the design was more appropriate to the area, it would be well accepted, but the Costa Coffee design that has been put forward looks like something out of Star Wars.

"Overall I am supportive of the development, as long as these changes can be made, let's just hope that they are taken on board at the next planning meeting."

There have also been concerns regarding the traffic flow that this development will bring to the area. According to the proposal reports, the development will generate over 400 vehicle movements in the morning peak hour and over 300 at the afternoon peak hour, and residents are worried about the dangers to pedestrians and cyclists. 

Mr Rennie said, "With all the recent development, to walk or cycle from Llanfoist to Abergavenny along Merthyr Road has already become very unpleasant and this will put the nail in the coffin for many who try to use alternatives to the car between Llanfoist and Abergavenny." 

Mr Ashworth however dispelled these concerns, saying that the increase in traffic flow should not be detrimental to the area. 

" With hotels the amount of traffic flow is not necessarily increased during peak hours, with most guests arriving later in the evening, and therefore it should not affect the site in a negative way,"?he said

There are also worries that this development will lead to an increase in chain fast food restaurants, and other businesses that will not benefit the local community or the local businesses in the area. 

Mr Rennie said, "I'm sure this won't be the end of it and more fast food chains are sure to follow with all the litter strewn verges they bring with them." 

Resident Patrick Hannay has also criticised the reasoning behind the development in his comments on the planning application., 

Mr Hannay said, "Mr Ball (the applicant) says 'This will be an important local facility serving the Llanfoist area.' Do residents of Llanfoist really so hate their homes that they want to emigrate to a Premier Inn every other weekend? Is their home-brewed coffee so poor that they need to negotiate a maze of roads and crossings to saturate their desire to pay for a coffee from Costa. The notion implicit in the statement is ridiculous., 

He added, "Has there been a public outcry for a Premier Inn serving Llanfoist and Abergavenny. Have there been calls for a 180 cover restaurant when Abergavenny and Llanfoist already have loads of restaurants. Of course not? 

"Abergavenny is full of fantastic independent coffee shops and food outlets plus restaurants and hotels and B&B's, many locally owned. Abergavenny didn't need Costa, a global chain, on its high street. It certainly doesn't need another one, drive-in this time, half a mile outside town. Just how much Costa does a town need?" 

 Mr Ashworth said in response to the criticisms, "While I know there have been concerns regarding the development, especially from the Civic Society, we want to ensure people that at this moment it is just a proposal. 

 "We welcome any and all feedback on the development, so our officers are fully aware of all public feeling regarding the possible site generation. Feedback can be submitted in writing, by email or via our website. 

"At the moment we are hoping to get the development to the planning committee on January 7, and we encourage all people with any concerns to make us aware so that we can be fully informed by the time of the meeting." 

You can see the applications online via the planning section of Monmouthshire County Council's website, using the references DC/2013/00856, DC/2013/00857, DC/2013/00871.