GARAGES with eye-catching designs painted on them by local children are to be demolished to make way for a development of six apartments reports ANDY SHERWILL.

The 12 garages on Llwynu Lane and St David's Road were featured as positive elements in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly photographic competition run last year by Abergavenny Civic Society, but now Monmouthshire planners have approved a scheme to build a two-storey development of six apartments with associated parking and landscaping on the site.

The scheme was one of two similar projects brought to the planning authority by Monmouthshire Housing Association, with a similar application for garages at Portskewett coming in for further scrutiny over claims by the association that the garages were unused and vacant.

Tuesday's meeting of Monmouthshire County Council's planning committee heard that in Abergavenny's case five of the garages were being used for housing cars and the others were being used for storage. None of the garages were empty or vacant.

As part of the planning consultation process Abergavenny Town Council and Llantilio Pertholey Community Council were asked for their views.

Abergavenny Town Councillor Martin Hickman said: "What's more important for our community – garages or homes, I know what we should have."

Councillor Norma Watkins said: "Many local residents who have lived here for decades have also had a garage during this time. The area currently has an open aspect to the estate and this development will begin to infill some of the open spaces. However on reflection the availability of more affordable housing in our area is paramount."

Llantilio Pertholey Community Council suggested that replacement garages for should be provided at an alternative location for use by existing garage occupiers.

The committee also heard that parking could be an issue in the future for local residents, even though the application makes provision for ten car parking spaces.

Ian Atkinson from Monmouthshire Housing Association said that the lack of consultation on both sites was down to the timing of a Welsh Government grant which stipulated that work needs to start by March.

Councillor Andrew Crump reminded members that when the authority's housing stock was transferred to Monmouthshire Housing Association they had tried to keep hold of the garage sites but their appeals were overturned.

He added: "The idea of us keeping these garages was to prevent such a situation as this proposed development happening. But in hindsight these garages are poorly maintained and not big enough for modern vehicles, however I do sympathise with tenants who use these garages for its original purpose."

Councillor James George said: "Unlike the Portskewett application, which I opposed, I fully support this scheme in Abergavenny."

Councillor Phyl Hobson said: "The real figure of people seeking affordable homes in this part of Abergavenny is a lot higher and possible double the 426 people being used as a statistic in this report. Therefore new affordable homes are required to meet this demand.

"I would like to think that for the sake of the neighbours affected by this proposed development that the mature trees indicated in the drawings will be planted as mature specimens as it could take 20 years for saplings to reach the maturity shown."

Councillor Roger Harris said "Basically it boils down to this - Do we keep home for cars or do we provide homes for people? I know which way I shall vote."

The committee voted 11 in favour of the scheme with one vote against.