RESIDENTS are fighting plans for a hostel for the homeless in Chepstow.

Newport housing association, Charter Housing, want to convert Hill House at Mount Pleasant, a former bed and breakfast, into accommodation for the temporary homeless.

A Planning application submitted to Monmouthshire council has already been opposed by the local town council.

Now residents of neighbouring property have sought professional representation from a planning consultancy to oppose the plan.

The Brock Planning Consultancy raised concerns and objections to the development on behalf of Fiona Toseland, of Step A Side, Hardwick Avenue.

They say a three-storey extension planned for the property will fall too close to the common boundary. They have been successful in getting the plans revised.

However, the formal objection submitted by Brock also highlights the major concerns of residents in the area.

Opponents of the hostel say Hill House is within a conservation area and want more details of how the building will be changed.

They also argue a hostel for the homeless is inappropriate for an area characterised by family homes, and say car parking is a problem.

The objection by Brock also raises concerns about the sizes of rooms in Hill House and the lack of an upper floors fire exit .

The document states: "The care standard inspectorate for Wales have adopted minimum standards of room sizes and one would have expected such a minimum standard to be adopted for any new scheme of conversion."

Mrs Toseland said: "It is not in keeping with a conservation area. People in our street cannot even put up a satellite dish or change their windows, yet the council can do this."

The hostel will incorporate nine bedrooms, one of them adapted for use by a disabled person, an additional bedroom for staff, an office and an IT training room for residents.

But residents say converting the building into a hostel will change its use and have called for the plan to be revised.

Charter Housing says it will offer housing, training and employment opportunities for young, single people.

No one from the company was available to comment.