RESIDENTS opposing plans for a home for vulnerable young people in their area have agreed to set up a residents' committee to fight the proposal.

The decision was taken at a public meeting of residents from Woodbine Road in Blackwood who are campaigning against plans to sell a vacant property on their street to the Gwent and Glamorgan housing association.

The residents' committee, to be made up of seven people, will now attempt to arrange meetings with local representatives, council officials, and the Gwent and Glamorgan Housing Association within the next month or so.

The move follows a victory for residents at a planning meeting of Caerphilly council earlier this month in which it was admitted that the local authority was wrong not to consult with residents.

It was also unanimously agreed to refer the matter back to the planning department and begin consultation with residents on the issue which provoked a 100-name petition of protest despite only a couple of days notice of the council's intentions.

Over 80 people from Woodbine Road and neighbouring streets attended the public meeting.

Residents said they felt they had enough problems without the home for vulnerable people coming to their street.

Chairman of the meeting and Woodbine Road resident Marc Jones said: "We've been accused of being NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) but this is not the case - we've just had enough."

Results from a survey conducted among residents were presented at the meeting which indicated that all, bar one of the respondents, would like to see the vacant property taken over by Blackwood charity Cancercareline.

The Argus has reported this month how the charity is desperate to move into the property after working from a temporary building on Wesley Road for the past 15 years.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge said: "I'm not against young people but I am against this centre being housed in a residential area.

"I also feel that Cancercareline should be given priority for this building."