PLANS to build up to 258 houses on a greenfield in Prestatyn could swallow the nearby village Meliden, residents fear.

Residents have until Friday, August 30 to voice their opinions on a 21.25 acre site off Ffordd Penrhwylfa - one of 15 candidate sites being considered by Denbighshire County Council in the town as part of its current Draft Local Development Plan (LDP).

Among the complaints about the prospective development are the loss of the village Meliden’s distinct identity, as well as cutting off a “major access artery”.

Stephen Dowel, who lives in one of the two houses on Ffordd Penrhwylfa backing on to the site said: “We’re already concerned with present problems affecting the area. This part of Prestatyn is already far too overdeveloped, with a third of the estates in the town located here - yet there has been no new roads or infrastructure to handle it. It’s absolute lunacy.

A neighbour of Mr Dowel’s, who wishes to remain anonymous said: “Developers should not be able to exploit housing target pressures to maximise profits.

“The importance of this parcel of greenbelt cannot be overstated – each community in Meliden and Prestatyn has its own separate identity which would be lost forever if any development is permitted.”

Concerns have also been raised by the capacity of the narrow Ffordd Penrhwylfa road to handle increased traffic, with the junction between Ffordd Ffynon and Fford Isa already considered to be particularly dangerous.

Mr Dowel added: “My main concern is that the road is major access artery for the whole of West Prestatyn. It’s already far too congested and many cyclists feel it is unsafe, while a bus service from Prestatyn Bus station to Meliden was withdrawn due to traffic issues.

“An increase in traffic would most importantly limit ambulances from Glan Clwyd or even completely halt any emergency response. The only alternative is to take a two-mile detour through the town center.”

The site, which is an area of wetland, sits between residential areas on Ffordd Ffynon in Prestatyn on one side, and Roundwood Avenue on the other, and is also located uphill from The Meadows estate.

While the land is thought to act as a sponge retaining excess water run-off during periods of heavy rainfall - which then drains to sea via the Prestatyn Gutter - nearby residents frequently experience flooding from water run-off which could be exacerbated by further development.

Mr Dowel added: “Residents in Ffordd Ffynon already have water gushing into their back gardens and the area flooded in 2007. The Meadows is very much on a lower plain than we are, and almost flooded in May when the Prestatyn Gutter nearly overtopped.”

In the past, the area was used as a refuse site and calls have been made by residents to conduct tests to determine the possibility of contamination to the water supply and drainage to the sea before green lighting any development.

The Draft LDP represents the first formal stage of producing plan and is referred to as the ‘Preferred Strategy’ stage.

Once the final draft version of the replacement LDP has been adopted by the Council, which is expected to be in 2021, the new Denbighshire LDP will set the framework for future growth and development in the County up to 2033.

To view the consultation visit countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk or visit Prestatyn Library on King's Avenue.