TWO separate protests about potential Gipsy sites in Newport will take place today (Friday) with a total of more than 8,000 petition signatures against three proposed sites.

At noon residents concerned about two proposed sites in Ringland will be at the Civic Centre with a petition carrying more than 6,000 names.

They are unhappy at plans in Newport City Council's local development plan (LDP) to have a residential site for three families on land at Hartridge Farm Road as well as the land at the former Ringland allotments being allocated as a contingency site.

Under Welsh Government legislation the council has to have at least one transit site and one residential site in its LDP.

The issue has seen a number of heated debates take place across the city in the past two months.

Ringland councillor, Emma Corten, said: "The Ringland Matters Group have collected more than 6000 signatures in six weeks I think that this goes to show the strength of feeling in the area.

"The objections of the group are based in planning concerns and have been drawn up after taking the government guidance for the implementation of traveller sites into consideration. The reasons for Hartiridge Farm Road being taken out of the LDP as a residential traveller site are valid and fair and I hope that council officers look at them carefully."

Then four hours later, residents concerned about the proposed transit site at Celtic Way close to Quinn Radiators in Coedkernew will hand over their petition.

Resident David Jones said their petition had more than 2,000 names on it.

Today is the final day for public submissions on the LDP.