ANGRY villagers have vowed to "fight to the bitter end" council plans to rip up part of a school field to accommodate a new residential development.

Torfaen council has written to some Cwmbran residents outlining its plans to redevelop land occupied by a disused hostel for the disabled - John Fielding House and defunct Montressor plant nursery in Llantarnam for residential development.

The plans have sparked anger among residents as part of the adjacent Llantarnam Comprehensive School's playing fields would be ripped up to make way for the development.

Torfaen council stress the plans are at an early stage and claim the school would not lose any facilities. The views of local residents would be considered before any plans went ahead.

But so incensed at the proposals, Llantarnam Road residents have formed the John Fielding Development Group pledging to fight the plans all the way.

They include committee chairman Alan Smith, 49, who said: "The last thing Llantarnam needs is housing. The parents and future parents of the school's pupils should be aware of what Torfaen Council's environmental planning department are proposing."

He said residents would prefer to see the land occupied by the defunct buildings used for car parking facilities for visitors to the nearby St Michael's church.

Committee secretary Lynne Turnbull who said: "Many of us have not receive any letters about these plans. I would like to see the land used for a doctor's surgery as the nearest at the moment is Old Cwmbran or a corner shop. There is enough housing.

"And the government say that children are too fat these days but they want to build on a school field - we will fight this all the way."

A Torfaen council spokeswoman said the John Fielding House and Montressor Nursery site was unacceptable in its present form and had become associated with vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

She added: "The school's governing body is considering its views regarding the inclusion of a very small piece of the school playing fields in the development plot. The council is determined the school is not disadvantaged in any way by the proposal."

*PICTURED: Group chairman Alan Smith (right) with committee members and residents.