CONTROVERSIAL plans to create a women's refuge in a Newport community will go ahead, planners say.

But the decision has angered residents and councillors, who submitted 46 letters of objection and a 176-signature petition against the Bryngwyn Road scheme.

The council's planning committee voted three against two in favour of converting an existing house in Bryngwyn Road to a refuge after two public meetings where residents stated their objections.

These included: too many multi-occupancy houses already in the area;

general excessive noise and anti-social behaviour and;

next-door to a nursery and close to a school, possibly putting children in contact with anti-social behaviour.

The objections were raised once more at yesterday's meeting, when committee member Councillor Les Knight moved for the plans to be rejected.

The Allt-yr-yn councillor said: "We've had a number of refuges in Newport over the years and the problems in these places spill out into the rest of the community." He said residents in his ward had been bombarded with every type of hostel imaginable and that "enough is enough".

Councillor Knight added: "In my opinion the public have been completely ignored and at no time was an opinion asked for from ward councillors."

Sean Hannaby, Newport council's development control manager, told the meeting Women's Aid groups across South Wales were consulted as to how common it was for ex-partners to visit refuges.

Mr Hannaby said Rhymney Valley Women's Aid had three refuges and had experienced two incidences in the past year. He added Port Talbot Women's Aid reported just one incident in 10 years.

Moving the plans be accepted, Councillor Miqdad Al-Nuaimi accused Councillor Knight of talking about the potential occupants "as if they were monsters".

The Stow Hill councillor added: "In my own ward we've had a women's refuge for as long as I can remember and we haven't really had any problems there.

"This is no different to any group of people living in a house." After the meeting, resident Stuart Leatherdale said: "Why waste money by consulting us if they're not going to take any notice whatsoever of 46 people writing in?"

Allt-yr-yn councillor Matthew Evans added: "The council says it's committed to public consultation, but why should we bother to consult if that's what is going to happen? "There were two very well attended public meetings and a huge amount of people writing in for a relatively small area."

PICTURED: This is the house earmarked as a refuge for women.