CAMPAIGNERS opposing proposals to create a car park on lawns of Newport’s historic Mansion House have asked the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales to investigate Newport City Council’s handling of the planning application.

Proposals to turn the former mayoral residence into a register office were approved by the authority’s planning committee back in February, with councillors also agreeing to the creation of a 22-space car park on lawns to the east of the building.

But residents living nearby started the Respect Newport’s Mansion House Campaign because they claimed the plans will “decimate” green spaces in the ground designed to attract people using it as a wedding venue.

Campaigners also say plans for cars to go in and out of the same entrance will cause serious traffic and safety problems in roads surrounding the Mansion House.

Speaking on behalf of the campaign, Stow Park Circle resident Sarah Dunn said the group had appealed to the Councillor Peter Davies, the cabinet responsible for the project, to reconsider the planning application but that this had had little affect.

A 13-page complaint to ombudsman Peter Tyndall, which has been signed by 74 residents, highlights concerns regarding traffic and safety, as well as procedural issues which they say the council has not followed.

Mrs Dunn said: “We have accepted the change of use from the Mayor’s residence to the new home for the city’s register office, but are concerned that highway safety and conservation issues have not been addressed by the city council.”

Newport City Council agreed in principle to fund work to the outside of the Mansion House at a cabinet meeting last week.

It is the first phase of work to turn the building into a register office, and cabinet members will consider a report on longer-term proposals for the former mayoral residence at a future meeting.

A spokeswoman for the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales said she could not confirm or deny if the organisation had received a complaint against any public body under the Public Services Ombudsmen for Wales Act.

Newport Council did not comment by the time the Argus went to press.