A MEETING to discuss the development of 4,000 homes in Monmouthshire over the next ten years, lasted an incredible 14 hours.

Residents and councillors faced the marathon session as major housing proposals for the key towns in the county were criticised and debated.

In the end the majority of plans were voted through, meaning they will now be included in the draft version of the local development plan.

That means proposals to earmark land for 516 homes in Abergavenny, 512 in Chepstow and 755 in Monmouth will all be included.

Aproposal to build on land at Chepstow Road, Raglan, was withdrawn and will be explored at a later stage.

The plans for a large housing development at Wonastow Road, Monmouth, were discussed for two hours as some councillors raised fears of flooding at the site.

The proposals to build on the Mabey Bridge site in Chepstow will be equally controversial because of the well documented existing traffic problems in the town.

Local residents who attended the meeting to show their opposition to plans to build houses on land at Llangybi were furious that the meeting had overrun by so many hours.

One lady explained that the residents had expected a decision at 2.30pm but they were still waiting five hours later.

She said: “It gives us a lack of confidence in Monmouthshire to organise a local development plan when they can’t organise a simple meeting.”

Monmouthshire County Council’s chief officer for regeneration and culture Kellie Beirne said: “It’s about how we want Monmouthshire to look in the future. The local development plan explains that we are losing young people from Monmouthshire. What will keep them? It’s housing and jobs.”

The plans will be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.