DINAS POWYS councillors have warned that any housing development on the former St Cyres school site would cause traffic chaos in the village.

Local councillors have also questioned the need for 10,000 houses across the Vale outlined in the draft Local Development Plan and said they would “resist unsuitable development”.

Councillor Chris Franks, along with fellow Plaid councillors Val Hartrey and Keith Hatton, said that as the former St Cyres school site was about to be marketed by the Vale Council there were “huge concerns” locally that up to 350 houses could be built on the site.

“The traffic implications are very significant,” he said.

“This site is in addition to the 70 houses proposed at Caerleon Road.

“Without significant traffic management issues being resolved many residents fear that the extra traffic will create even more problems. We have not seen any indication of how it’s intended to overcome the bottle necks at the Murch Road /Cardiff Road junction and the Marrier Harriers.”

He added that there were concerns that all the traffic would travel along Murch Crescent from the site.

Independent councillor Chris Williams, who represents the Cross Common ward, has also questioned the need for housing and said it would exacerbate the pollution levels in the area.

“How can the Vale of Glamorgan Council justify building on this site when its own figures have shown that we need 60 per cent less housing than originally envisaged?” he said.

“The case against housing is also strengthened by the extremely high levels of pollutants along the A4055 especially at the Infants School site. There is no plan to reduce traffic along this vital artery and no chance of a by-pass as local AM’s and successive MP’s have consistently failed our residents.”

The Vale Council Cabinet recommended in February this year that the land should be marketed for “residential, community and recreational uses”, subject to statutory planning permission.

A report before cabinet members at the time said: “The intention is to market and dispose of the site to secure a single developer or consortium of developers. The successful bidder will be required to complete a master plan for a mixed use development that will deliver new homes, open spaces and opportunities for community and recreational uses within the site.”

A section of the land is already earmarked for a medical centre after the council entered into an agreement with Brackley Investments Limited.

Rob Thomas, Director of Development Services at the Vale Council, said that the council would consider traffic management issues with all planning applications.

“All of the comments we have received as part of the consultation on the future of the St Cyres site and during the various stages of consultation on the Local Development Plan will be taken into consideration.

“Any proposals to develop the former St Cyres site will require careful deliberation. Among many other issues this will include consideration of potential traffic generation and any possible impact on the local transport network.”