A HEATED public meeting saw residents voice their fears of possible opencast mining as one of South East Wales’ largest derelict sites goes up for auction.

Former councillor John Cox called the meeting, attended by 30 people, so residents could voice their opinions on The British.

During the meeting in Talywain’s OAP Hall on Thursday, Dr Cox said: “Something has happened and HSBC are looking for a quick sale, it's clear that Torfaen are in some commercial discussions with HSBC as they felt it better to not send anyone here tonight.

“I have had no response from the planning officer, which is unusual.”

Landowners HSBC, who repossessed the disused colliery and ironworks after Castlemore Securities and subsidiary Spring Talywain went into administration in March 2009, have confirmed a public auction for the 1,306 acre site with a guide price of £250,000 split into two lots on Wednesday, June 8.

Dr Cox added: “HSBC want to write it off as soon as possible but Torfaen would like to see it used for housing. It has been paralysed for several years and I would rather see Torfaen buy it as we would only have to deal with them rather than a new cowboy outfit as well.”

Many residents asked whether it was viable for housing and expressed fear over what happened two years ago in South Sebastopol when the Welsh government stepped in after Torfaen rejected a planning application for 1,200 homes that met the guidelines laid out in the Local Development Plan.

It was decided during the meeting it was in the best interest to set up a working group that could tell both the council and buyers ‘and proactively push what the people want to see happen to the site’, protected from housing and mining with the idea of a heritage or nature reserve.

Lynda Clarkson, head of the new working group, said: “At the moment we have an outdated scheme for The British in the local development plan and we need to talk to the council about how we see it changing, if an application came tomorrow they would have to process it.

“The money from coal was supposed to fund the roads in the LDP so we need to act really quickly with our own proposals for the site and pressure the LDP into being changed, otherwise the Welsh Government can potentially overrule the council.”

Dr Cox made it clear that as a group it was important to show their opposition to any development and believes “any worth in the land is negative as that’s how HSBC can write off £5m”, it was agreed there is a preference for it becoming a wildlife reserve or national heritage centre.

Resident Yvonne Walker said: “We should speak to people like Cadw, World Heritage and Natural Resource Wales to protect the site.”

One man, who didn’t want to be named, was applauded when he said: “Right from the beginning I have been against opencast mining and I will always be until my dying day. It’s so beautiful over there and should be protected.

“We can’t have new houses when the roads and infrastructure is so bad.”

There was a feeling of disappointment by many that no one from Torfaen council and neither ward councillors attended.

Resident Gwyn Thomas Jenkins said: “I think it’s a disgrace that no one from the council or ward members have come up just to hear our concerns.

“I have been taking photos of the site for 30 years and it in such a bad state now it is worrying.”

Lynne Lewis, Pentwyn resident, added: “For years it has been calm but the wing of change is in the air very quickly, our house would be directly effected and we don’t want to see such a change.”

The working group confirmed they would be handing out fliers to every household in the area over the coming weeks.

Torfaen council to comment.