A CRUNCH meeting to determine the future of the controversial South Sebastopol housing development has been postponed.

Councillors were due to meet next Tuesday to discuss the plan to build 1,200 homes on green land between Pontypool and Cwmbran.

The meeting has now been put off until the end of July because the council could have been breaching planning rules had it gone ahead.

Duncan Smith, Torfaen council's assistant director of planning, explained: "We need to advertise the fact that we received further environmental information on the plan. This is not new information, we have had it for a number of months, but we realised we would be breaking planning rules if it was not advertised to make sure all parties can comment on it." Mike Jacob, (pictured) chairman of Fight the Plan, one of the protest groups involved, said: "The council is not saying exactly what environmental information it is referring to, so until it specifies I'm not satisfied that we have already seen it.

"For us this is confirmation that the council wants to look at the plans more carefully and see if there are any flaws, because if there are then we will pick up on them.

"It also gives us more time to reflect on our response, and any opportunity to delay the plan further is good for us."

A new meeting has been set for Monday, July 28, and an advert will appear in the local Press in the next couple of weeks to allow time for people to make comments. The plan will also be on view in County Hall, Cwmbran.

Those wishing to speak at the meeting must notify the county borough bolicitor by 5.30pm on Thursday July 24.

Notification in writing should be sent to Duncan Forbes, Torfaen county borough solicitor; Civic Centre, Pontypool.

You can also fax to 01495 766396, or email Duncan.Forbes @torfaen.gov.uk