PLAID Cymru councillors have said that there is no need for major housing developments in Sully and Dinas Powys.

Councillors Ian Johnson and Chris Franks tabled a motion to the Vale's full council calling for a reduction in the amount of housing allocated in the Vale of Glamorgan’s Local Development Plan.

The motion was defeated last week after Labour and Llantwit Major councillors voted against it, with the Conservatives abstaining.

Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson said: “For the past 15 months I have argued that the Vale’s housing plans have not recognized the new reality that there will be fewer people in the Vale than anticipated.

“In simple terms, we do not need to build the nearly 10,000 houses in the plan - essentially building another Penarth - and we should vary that accordingly, cutting them by nearly half.

“The Vale of Glamorgan has already given substantial planning permissions to build on Barry Waterfront, White Farm, Golwg y Coed and Rhoose Point as well as for developments at Culverhouse Cross and the outskirts of Wenvoe. Planning permission has already been granted for around 3,800 houses.

“When you then include windfall and smaller developments, for example, Haydock House in Barry becoming 20 flats, then you very quickly reach the 5,600 target.

“There is simply no need for including major greenfield sites in the LDP. We should remove sites such as Darren Farm in Cowbridge or Cog, near Sully, altogether."

He added that he believes there should be no development in Dinas Powys until traffic problems along the A4055 are resolved, preferably by building a bypass.

“When I have previously made these arguments," he said. "The Vale Council has argued against me and said that they would wait until new figures were published.

“These figures have now been published, and it is time that the Vale Council listened - not just to the people, but to the strong evidence as well."