THE OWNERS of Cross Keys  guesthouse have stressed that they are not planning on opening a ‘halfway house’ in the area after concerns were raised by local residents.

More than 200 people attended a public meeting at Cross Keys RFC on Tuesday night raising concerns about the prospect of a halfway house being opened in the Crosskeys Hotel.

It comes after the owners of the Westwood Villa guest house, based on Risca Road in Caerphilly, bought the Crosskeys Hotel.

Gary Pesticcio, who runs the guest house with his wife Carla, said: “We have got no plans to open it as a halfway house. My view of halfway houses is that they provide accommodation for people who are in prison or need help, rehabilitation, or looking after, and that’s absolutely not what we are doing.”

He added that he planned for it to be a four star hotel when it opened.

“I’m planning on running a hotel like a Premiere Inn or a Travel Lodge,” he said.

“There would be a different planning permission for a halfway house. You would need social workers or social services people to help.”

Concerns were raised about the plans for the hotel on social media, with a meeting organised by local residents to discuss the plans.

Mr Pesticcio was unable to attend the meeting and asked for it to be postponed, but has said that he would be willing to meet with anyone if they would like to discuss his plans.

His wife Mrs Pesticcio added: “Obviously people talk and there are rumours going around, but we would like to state for the record that it is a hotel with a bar and not a halfway house.”

The couple have previously been nominated for wards for their Westwood Villa guest house.

Last year they were nominated for an Above and Beyond Award as part of Newport’s Night of Honour award, after they opened their guesthouse to vulnerable adults and teenagers.

The pair had also opened the doors of their holiday guesthouse to those seeking emergency housing.

They work closely with councils in the area, including Newport Council and Caerphilly Council, and are on alert night and day, ready to open up their home to anyone who needs it.