COMMUNITY leaders succeeded in blocking a company's second attempt to open a builders' yard in a Newport residential area.

Councillors turned down Robert Price Builders' Merchants' second application to develop a former transport yard behind the Mercedes showroom in Corporation Road.

The first application was rejected in October 2006 after residents submitted a petition containing 126 signatures.

At that time Newport's planning committee agreed with campaigners that the influx of heavy vehicles would cause a safety hazard to young children on their way to and from St Andrew's Junior School.

Councillors said the vehicles would also create dust and noise pollution, and have an adverse impact on conservation areas in and around the River Usk.

But the company, which markets itself as the largest independent builders' merchants in South Wales, took the matter to appeal in June last year, when the inspector concluded that the noise generated by either the vehicles or the yard itself would not adversely affect the community.

The inspector criticised the design, saying it was not high enough quality for the riverfront context, but said it would be acceptable if the landscaping along the riverfront was improved.

The amended application from Robert Price increased the landscaping strip between the river and the development site to between 1.75 and 4 metres.

Those plans came before Newport's planning committee this week.

Ward councillors Allan Morris and Ken Critchley addressed the meeting at the Civic Centre, each making forceful arguments against the application.

"Residents' views haven't changed one iota," said Councillor Morris. "What's the point of having a 7.5 tonne weight limit on Corporation Road? Are we just going to take the signs down?"

The committee went against the advice of officials and refused the builders' yard proposal by six votes to nil, with two abstentions.

Residents' road safety fears GILLIAN Marshall owns an adjoining property and has campaigned against the plans from the beginning. She told the committee there was a "very real possibility" of a child being killed.

Stuart Wild, head of planning at Newport council, warned that refusing the application would make the authority liable for "considerable" costs if the company succeeded in a second appeal.