A CONTROVERSIAL earth-moving scheme at Blaina West Side is being recommended for approval by planners.
A report to Blaenau Gwent county council's planning committee, scheduled for debate on Wednesday, backs an earth-moving scheme funded by the Welsh Development Agency.
The council says fears that the scheme - to shift 250,000 tonnes of soil and rock material - will disturb the habitats of bats protected under European law are unfounded.
A study found the roost of protected bats is not on the land earmarked for the earth from Blaina West Side, although the animals use the area for foraging.
The findings are a bitter blow for the Rising Sun protest group, which has gathered a 102-signature petition to move the soil elsewhere.
Members hoped they could use the protection of rare species to get the earth moved to an alternative site.
A spokeswoman for the Rising Sun group, Betty Statt, 59, of Burea Cottages, said: "They are moving the earth because human life is at risk and you cannot disagree with that - but what we want to know is why us?"
The schemeinvolves moving earth from a hillside in Blaina West Side to reclaimed land near the Rising Sun industrial estate.
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