A ROW of ￡200,000 homes will be SPARED from being knocked down after homeowners won a bitter driveway dispute that sparked "two years of hell".

       Neighbours are breathing a sigh of relief after a planning meeting yesterday ruled their 30ft drives in Gwent, Wales, are not too steep to safely park cars.

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       A group of homeowners are overjoyed a planning meeting has ended in their favour Credit: Huw Evans 5

       Resident Andrew Pugh in front of his home in Blaina Credit: Huw Evans 5

       It has been ruled their 30ft drives in Gwent are not too steep to safely park cars Credit: WNS

       Delighted Andrew Pugh, who owns one of the homes, said fellow campaigners will be "cracking open a bottle of something" to celebrate the win.

       He told The Sun: "We're all very relieved with the outcome."

       A dispute with the council erupted after an application for the homes to be built on the former village school site near Abertillery was refused.

       It was later overturned by Welsh Government planning inspectors and the homes were built in 2018.

       But council officials said the homes did not match the planning permission - including problems with the steep driveways surrounded by high walls blocking the view of the road.

       Neighbours in the four-year-old row of six semis and one detached home stood against the nightmare of seeing their homes demolished.

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       They had been hoping for a "sensible solution" - which they were ultimately handed today.

       The homeowners eagerly tuned into the planning meeting online yesterday and although satisfied, Andrew said it was a shame it had to come to this.

       He said: "This has been two years of hell but it has a happy ending for all of us.

       "We are grateful to the elected council members who fought on our behalf but still very disappointed with some of the council officials who let us down."

       TWO YEARS OF HELL

       David Williams from D3 Property Developments was equally thrilled with the outcome.

       He said: "We want to get on with the work now for the residents and put this to bed."

       Developer D3 Property Developments had lodged an amended planning application to be allowed to retain the homes.

       The decision now states four of the properties will have to have the front garden walls altered.

       Developers will return to the site to lower the walls and angle them so homeowners reversing down their drives can see people pavement.

       Peter Barnes, agent for D3 Property Developments, had earlier said the alternative was "to descend into chaos".

       The council was contacted for comment.

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       Andrew Pugh said the ruling to keep their homes ends two years 'of hell' Credit: WNS 5

       Families had been gutted to learn the roads chiefs believed the drives were too steep Credit: Huw Evans