NEWENT is at risk of major flooding if plans to build 85 houses go ahead, according to some local residents. Gladman Developments is currently holding public consultations over its bid to build a housing estate on land off Ross Road. However, residents on Horsefair Lane, the road the development would back onto, are worried it will create a run-off which will make the area more prone to flooding. Brian Oakley said: "It all floods down here when we get a lot of rain. It floods in the lane. If you end up with new roofs and hard standing it's just going to come down here in torrents. "There are lots of other concerns like light pollution. "I think the real concern is the run-off. We need to know how big the field is. I think it's about 20 hectares so that's a massive amount of water. "Because we've had two recent flooding events the risk is there."

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