A WAR veteran and a disabled man are two of seven residents Monmouthshire County Council has applied to take out injunctions on for their recent opposition to the Bulwark skatepark.

Construction was due to begin in Bulwark Park almost a month ago but has been held up by the 24-hour-vigil of over 100 residents who are objecting to the location of the facility.

That delay has cost the council over £17,000 due to the knock-on effect of other work not being done by the Lifelong Learning and Leisure team and legal officers and other assorted costs.

In addition, the contractor Blakedown Landscapes has incurred costs of over £15,000. Many residents fear that the council will seek to recover some of those costs through legal action taken on them.

Last week, seven residents received summons to Cardiff High Court as the council has applied for injunctions to keep them off the construction site.

One of them, William Pegg, 65, of St George Road, in Bulwark, Chepstow, served for 22 years in the Royal Artillery, retiring in 1984 as Staff Sergeant.

He has lived in Chepstow since 1979 and has been walking in Bulwark Park, known locally as Piggy's Hill, since that time.

A patient of two triple-by-pass operations, Mr Pegg says he can't travel too far to enjoy a walk because of the condition of his heart.

"It would be sacrilege to destroy this haven of peace and quiet so loved by residents. If they wish to remove me they will have to do it physically."

Monmouthshire's head of Legal Services, Robert Tranter, said: "If we are successful with just one of them then it prevents any unauthorised person from entering onto the construction site."