A HIGH-PRESSURE gas pipeline can be constructed through Blaenau Gwent, the Department of Trade and Industry has decided.

An application for the pipeline, by Transco, has been agreed by the DTI despite objections to the proposal from Blaenau Gwent council.

The authority had argued the plan will have negative ecological effects because the bulk of the route - from Gilwern to Hafodyrynys - is in the county borough and crosses vulnerable habitats of moorland and heathland.

A report to the council's planning and licensing committee says this would have "an effect on scarring of the landscape that would be visually unacceptable".

The route also crosses Ben Wards Field, in Brynmawr, which is identified as suitable for housing development in the local development plan. The authority is concerned that traversing that site with a high-pressure gas main could prohibit development. There were also objections to the pipeline from the Countryside Council for Wales, the Campaign for Rural Wales and some private landowners.

Some, but not all, of the objections were said to have been addressed by Transco.

Peter Slater, Blaenau Gwent's director of environment and development, said he was disappointed in the DTI decision to approve the application - although a number of conditions have been imposed relating to construction and remediation.

"It is unfortunate that the DTI deemed it appropriate to grant consent while the concerns of this council were not sufficiently addressed," he said.

"Further, the conditions imposed by the DTI do not require the input of this council in the consideration of additional material that is required to be submitted."

Mr Slater added that he would monitor the situation as work began, and forward any complaints to the DTI.