COUNCILLORS in Dinas Powys have issued a plea to the firm carrying out a new 70-home development in Caerleon Road to minimise disruption to residents during the construction period.

Plaid Cymru members of Dinas Powys Community Council made the appeal at an open day hosted by United Welsh Housing Association and developer Kier on Monday, March 26.

Previously, residents had voiced their concerns over increases in traffic and the safety of children, as well as the lack of pedestrian links to the local railway station and the fact that the site is situated in a flood risk zone.

Planning permission was granted for the site in January 2016, and the full application approved by Vale planners at a committee meeting last year.

Plaid community councillor Chris Franks believes the open day was an important opportunity for people to air their concerns, and for the developers to respond.

“The open day was a welcome opportunity to raise issues,” he said. “We stressed that in the area of the site, but also along Castle Drive, outside Tesco and also near the schools, there must be careful control of delivery vehicles and other traffic linked to the site.

“We were assured that there would be strict control by the developers.

“There is to be a storage lagoon for exceptionally heavy rain in the corner of the site near the railway. We were also told that the sewage pipes were larger than required to provide addition water storage.”

In a previous statement, Richard Mann, director of development for United Welsh Housing Association, sought to allay fears regarding the impact of additional traffic in the village.

Traffic flow through Dinas Powys is already considered to be at maximum capacity, and talks regarding a long-awaited bypass remain in their infancy.

“We consulted with the public and the relevant authorities to consider the traffic implications,” said Mr Mann.

“We will develop a detailed plan which will be submitted to the local authority for approval which will consider traffic calming measures.”

People interested in social and affordable housing at the new development should register their interest with the housing association, as well as through the Vale of Glamorgan Council with Homes4U.