LOCAL campaigners have scored a victory by persuading planners to reject an application to build two houses in the grounds of Abergavenny's Fire Station.

Monmouthshire planners heard that the fire authority, which is seeking outline planning permission for a pair of semi detached three-bedroomed houses, has indicated that the existing car park is surplus to requirements.

However ten local residents from nearby St Mary's Road and Tanglewood have objected to the scheme, and along with Abergavenny Town Council, who recommended the refusal of the application as part of the consultation process, have pointed out that the fire station is used for a variety of functions including training, various courses and conferences that stretch the limited parking on site to its capacity.

At Tuesday's planning meeting, Abergavenny Town Councillor Martin Hickman told members that the fire station had originally been built using common sense, adding: "The car park is adequate for a dozen vehicles parking tidily, but when the part-time firemen respond to a shout they just abandon their vehicles, often in the neighbouring streets causing chaos."

Fellow town and county councillor John Prosser said: "The local residents have fought a hard campaign objecting to this development and I've listened to all their concerns at a public meeting held in the summer.

"The overwhelming factor is not the design of the building itself, but the loss of car parking spaces with St Mary's Road and Tanglewood and the surrounding area already being used as an overflow for the parking of vehicles The situation would only get worse if this development were to go ahead.

"The fire authority is being short sighted thinking that the space is used only for the parking of cars. It's not, as we've all seen the fire crews using the ground for training purposes, and on those nights the car parking in the fire station is not enough as it is and people park in the neighbouring streets. Residents understand and accept this.

"This fire station was designed with common sense, but plans to develop the backyard is going one step too far."

Residents also helped persuade Monmouthshire planners by presenting them with a set of photographs that clearly show the fire station car park at capacity and clearly depicts instances of double parking in some pictures and clogged up side streets in others.

Councillor Peter Clarke said: "This is an opportunistic application. It's being presented now to make a quick buck and the scheme has no other merit."

The meeting heard that a cheery tree planted in memory of a former fire officer could be at risk if the development went ahead.

Councillor David Dovey added: "It seems that nobody at the fire authority cares much about personal things like this. Administrators see the potential of a patch of land and are seizing the moment with little regard for what's gone on before."

Councillor Maureen Powell concluded: "The fire authority has to realise that this space is more valuable than they realise as it's so much more than just a car park."

The Monmouthshire planners overturned the officers' recommendation and refused the application, citing the loss of car parking facilities as their reasoning. The application will come before members again at the next planning meeting to confirm their decision to refuse the plans.