MORE than 50 people have signed a petition calling on Newport council to turn a Maindee church site into a green space and play area, instead of affordable homes.

At a planning meeting today, the council will discuss a planning application for 14 flats, which would see St Matthew's Church demolished.

But the office of Mohammad Asghar AM, who organised the petition and submitted it to the local authority for consideration, believes it should be a green space for the young people in the community.

“St Julian’s doesn’t have many spaces for young people to go play," said spokeswoman.

"The space could easily be turned into a park.”

The planning report outlines that the existing church is no longer open for worship and that the housing applicant, Derwen Cymru, says that it has fallen into disrepair.

"Whilst attractive, the existing church isn't considered worthy of protection and it's not within a Conservation Area," its adds.

The report also said that the redevelopment of the site, on Church Road, is "acceptable in principle", and that the proposed properties address a clearly identified need for affordable housing in Maindee.

There are said to currently be 362 affordable housing applications for either single people or couples over the age of 55 specifically requesting the Maindee area and, at present, the proposals are the only opportunity to address this need in the area.

But in a letter to the council, Mr Asghar AM - whose constituency office is on the same road - said that he is "deeply concerned" about the proposals.

"Locals have raised concerns about the amount of annoyance, disturbance and problems that this will create for parking," he said. "A new block of flats with no adequate parking will add more problems for those who already live in the area."

The council report, in its conclusion, recommends that the application be granted subject to conditions, saying the scheme has "significant merits".

St Matthew’s Church, which was built in the 1890s when Maindee was rapidly developing, closed in 2014 due to dry rot, which rendered the building unsafe.

To view the full application visit newport.gov.uk and search 16/0195.

Today’s planning committee meeting at Newport Civic Centre is open to the public and will begin at 10am.