CONCERNS that a greenfield site between Torfaen and Newport could become an out-of-town retail park, look set to prompt a second review of the boundary.

Gwent AM Mike Ger-man fears that unless the dividing line between the two county boroughs is tidied up, there could be future planning problems at the top of Malpas.

The boundary commission are currently consulting over a proposal to realign the boundary between Llantar-nam in Cwmbran and Malpas and Caerleon in Newport.

The plan would see the recently built A4042 Malpas bypass become the new dividing line between the three wards.

But Mr German is writing to the commission asking them to look at the area to the north of their proposals.

He believes that roads make a more logical boundary than the existing stream.

He recommended such a course of action to the current revision process, without success.

"We are of a view that the suggestions relate to areas that are outside the scope of this review," the commission said, noting that it would look again if a formal request was made.

Mr German, who is a former Cardiff councillor, recalled the problems Cardiff had fighting off the creation of the Culverhouse Cross out-of-town shopping area, which was once part of the Vale of Glamorgan, but has since been transferred to Cardiff Council.

The battle was lost, and Mr German claims that single planning decision has resulted in traffic chaos in the west of Cardiff ever since.

He said: "That land between Torfaen and Newport is on a prime site, close to the motorway. I'm not saying development is a good or bad idea.

"But at the moment, the decision would be made by Torfaen, while the impact would be on people in Newport.

"The situation is similar to Culverhouse Cross, where Vale of Glamorgan gave the go-ahead and the decision has had a major impact on Cardiff and caused tremendous congestion.

"By transferring the land to Newport it would ensure that any future decision would have to take in to account the views of people in Malpas."

However, Mr German's proposal is unlikely to be supported by either council. Both support the status quo and both are committed to maintaining the area as a green buffer zone between Newport and Cwmbran.

l Mr German's proposal would see the area east of the A4042 and south of Pentre Lane - which links Llantar-nam with Ponthir - transfer to Newport.

Two small areas of woodland north of Pentre lane, but south of the existing border would transfer to Torfaen in recompense.

The move would re-align the boundary with roads, which Mr German feels is more logical.