ANGRY residents in Newbridge say a new block of flats is destroying the area.

Plans to build a block of Emerald Property Developments Ltd flats on Ashfield Road were approved in January last year and building work is now nearing completion.

But local residents claim the new part-two storey, part-three storey flats are not what they expected.

They are writing a letter to the council ombudsman complaining that Caerphilly council granted planning permission for the build.

Patsy Bower, who moved into her home on North Road last August, is just one of those complaining.

"When I came here I knew there was going to be a new build, but as far as we were concerned it was going to be just a two storey building," she said.

"If I had known, I wouldn't have moved in."

Ms Bower and other residents also say the build has made their only access lane into a dangerous blind corner.

She said: "It's gob smacking, we are amazed that it ever got passed by Caerphilly council - anyone can see it has caused safety issues. It is an accident waiting to happen."

The residents are also concerned that the new flats are blocking out their light.

Work is also underway on a separate three storey block of Fairoak home flats on the other side of Ashfield Road and residents fear this will make the problems in the area worse.

A spokesperson for Caerphilly council said the submitted plans for the Emerald flats always showed that the build would be part two-storey and part three-storey.

He said that the seventeen neighbouring properties on North Road, Ashfield Road, and Greenfield were consulted about the scheme and that the council's Chief Engineer did not raise any safety objections to the development.

He added that the proposal will include adequate parking and an improvement to the pavement around the site.

Emerald Property Developments were unavailable for comment.