Residents to watch Stradey plans

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Residents who fought plans for 450 homes at Stradey Park will turn their attention to ensuring the many planning conditions imposed are followed.

Campaigners have met to express their "deep disappointment" after the Welsh Assembly Government allowed the housing development to proceed this week.

The Llanelli Scarlets will now sell the rugby ground to pay for a £15m new stadium on the other side of the town.

Residents say their flooding, traffic and over-development concerns remain.

Although they have not ruled out exploring further legal action, resident June Newnham conceded it would be expensive and they did not have the funds.

"We tried to fight the corner for the local people. We haven't won - but at least we've tried," she said.

Mrs Newnham said, during the public inquiry into the plans held earlier this year, promises were made that work to prevent flooding, sewerage spills and traffic chaos would be carried out before any building work started.

"We will be monitoring this very closely," she added.

"We will be making these points to Carmarthenshire Council."

This will help ensure a bright future for a region which forms a vital cornerstone of the sport Roger Lewis, WRU

The club has said it hopes to be able to move the new £15m 13,500 capacity ground at Pemberton by the start of the 2008/09 season.

It said without the planning consent it would have ceased to exist.

The Welsh Rugby Union welcomed Thursday's announcement.

Group chief executive Roger Lewis said: "This will help ensure a bright future for a region which forms a vital cornerstone of the sport not just in Wales, but across the globe.

"I applaud the people of vision at the Llanelli Scarlets who have lived with this dream and will now be able to see it through to reality.

"We need the level of facilities and finances that this new stadium will bring to Wales to ensure we attract the best players along with the finest administrators and most loyal supporters.

"Here in Wales we boast regions with a burning ambition for success, which bodes well for the future of the sport.

"If we continue to have successful, ambitious and well-run regions, the national team will benefit. That's what we are all working towards sustaining and developing going forward."