A PETITION has been launched calling for Carmarthen's local development plan (LDP) and others across Wales to be recalled over fears they are not based on local needs.

A petition on the e-petitions section of the Welsh Assembly website urges the Welsh Government to recall all LDPs and scrap the use of statistics of population projections to shape the plan for each town.

The petition reads: "We call for all LDPs at whatever stage of development to be halted immediately in order to bring the level of housing growth in line with genuine local needs."

The petition closes in November and will then be discussed by a cross-party petitions panel.

Serious

Carmarthen councillor and town sheriff Alun Lenny, who has signed the petition, said there is a serious situation facing west Carmarthen, with more than 1,200 homes planned between Johnstown and Travellers Rest, one of the biggest LDPs in the county.

He said: "People in many parts of Wales are seriously concerned by LDPs, as they have the potential to damage the character of our communities by fuelling massive demographic change through migration.

"Having said that, the situation has changed dramatically since these LDPs were drafted.

"Very few people now move into Carmarthenshire.

"There is a dire need among young people in the county for social housing and affordable homes.

"Priority should be given to taking possession of long-term vacant properties in Carmarthen, for use as rented accommodation or starter homes.

"The county council urgently needs to address the needs of our own people, rather than fuelling in-migration by covering green fields with over 1,000 houses.

"The Welsh Government should freeze the LDP process and consider housing needs in the light of a whole new economic era."

The authority said the county's population is expected to increase by 11 per cent.

Former town mayor and current north Wales AM Llyr Huws Gryffydd visited Johnstown last Tuesday to meet with Mr Lenny and local resident Arwyn Davies over the town's LDP.

Mr Huws Gryffudd, Plaid spokesman for rural affairs, said: "Carmarthen is facing a similar situation as many communities in north Wales where there are large scale plans for homes, which are based on population projections and housing need taken from as far back as the censuses in 1991 and 2001.

Petition

"There, as in Carmarthen, the plans are not based on local need and I would urge people to sign the online petition to pause LDPs because there is the same feeling among communities across Wales."

The Welsh Assembly did not wish to comment on the petition until it closes in November.

Carmarthenshire Council senior forward planning officer Ian Llewelyn said: "Population projections form important indicators which the Welsh Government require and are used as the basis for assessing need and future housing requirements."