They said they were “disappointed with the comments made by the Gwent Wildlife Trust, many of which are inaccurate, and have been issued prior to them seeing the finished Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).” It said it had been liaising directly with Gwent Wildlife Trust as part of this process and was therefore surprised it had raised objections having not yet seen the final proposals. A spokesman for HVDC said: “This is a project that is set to transform the local economy and the lives of people in Blaenau Gwent by attracting thousands of much-needed jobs and training opportunities to the area – but we are certainly not taking anything for granted.

“We are, however, committed to working with the trust to alleviate as many of their concerns as possible. “We have already significantly altered the design of the project to reduce any impact on the environment, which highlights just how seriously we take these matters.” The Circuit of Wales is set to create 9,000 jobs and is expected to attract 750,000 visitors a year, boosting the Welsh economy by £50 million a year. If plans are passed it will include a 3.5-mile racetrack, karting and motocross tracks, a race academy and technology park. Two hotels could also be built and commentators say the track could compete with Silverstone for world-class race events.

Have your say on the plans at community consultation events taking place across Blaenau Gwent in November and December. Visit circuitofwales.com for more information.

Ebbw Vale and Newbridge met at Eugene Cross Park each seeking a fifth successive win, with the home side boosting a try count of 30 in only four fixtures. The visitors had been no slouches in their quartet of games, crossing 18 times, and the game was expected to be a close encounter. However, that’s not the way matters panned out as Ebbw Vale’s try-scoring exploits continued, no fewer than five being recorded in a fine 37-7 success which takes them above Bargoed.

Ebbw Vale head coach Neil Edwards expressed his delight at the success: “It was a good performance once we got going and we are obviously very pleased with the result. “We started OK, but took a while to really get going and we had to react because there was a lot of pressure on us to get the win. “We have a good squad here and matters are going well at the moment, but no-one here is getting carried away at all. “We now need to kick on from here because there are some very difficult challenges ahead for us.” Newbridge team manager Darryl Williams was gracious in defeat and revealed his side had deserved to lose.

“We made too many mistakes while they were very clinical in their finishing,” he continued. “However, we now have another derby on Saturday and a game against Pontypool gives us an opportunity to bounce back.” Scoring five-pointers for Ebbw Vale were number eight and skipper Ronny Keynes, wingers Tom Ashmead and Wes Cuncliffe, centre John Lewis and replacement scrum-half Josh Davies. Outside-half Dan Haymond kicked three conversions and a penalty and Lewis landed a penalty, while Newbridge had one moment of glory a minute after the interval, when former Ebbw Vale scrum-half Tom Edwards charged down a Haymond clearance for a try which stand-off Neil Burnett converted.

Blackwood lost 37-9 at Tata Steel, where only outside-half Josh Steer managed to get on the score-sheet with a trio of penalties. Pontypool entertained Bridgend Athletic searching for that elusive first victory and seemed almost there as tries from outside-half Elliott Goodman, Matt Thomas and Clayton Gullis and seven points from the boot of the latter had them 22-16 ahead going into the final minute. But that last-gasp converted try plus Whitland’s 20-20 draw at Glamorgan Wanderers pushed Pontypool down to the very bottom of the 14-strong division.

“We are all extremely gutted,” said a hugely disappointed Pontypool head coach Mike Hook. “In the final analysis, we made too many errors, although we are taking a lot of positives despite it being another loss. “We see certain aspects of our game which are fine and if we can improve on those which aren’t, then we are progressing.” On Saturday, all four local clubs clash – Ebbw Vale visit Blackwood, while Newbridge host Pontypool.

l In Division One East, Tredegar lost 39-17 at home to Merthyr, while in the SWALEC Bowl there were first-round wins for Brynithel, Chepstow, Crumlin, New Tredegar and RTB Ebbw Vale. St Julian’s HSOB also progressed via a walk-over against Girlings, who scratched from the competition.

He said the firm would use the natural landscape of the Rassau site to minimise any noise and would plant trees, which reduce the distance sound can travel. Mr Carrick also reassured some residents who raised concerns the Circuit of Wales sounded too good to be true, and that business ventures promised to the area in the past had failed to materialise.

He said: "These discussions around the Circuit of Wales have gone on for three to four years with investment partners, the organisations behind individual international races, the local authority and the Welsh government. We are very confident that everything is in place, which is why we are pushing ahead with our planning application at this time."

Despite a small number of comments about noise, more than 400 people have now attended community consultations and the HVDC says the response had been overwhelmingly positive. Many people welcomed the scheme, which is set to create 9,000 jobs and boost the Welsh economy by £50 million a year. One comment from the feedback forms read: "It would be a fantastic addition to [Blaenau Gwent], creating jobs in a deprived area, improving the community and social development." Another read: "The project is something that would bring the borough into the 21st century and give hope to our young people."

As well as the main race track , there will also be an international kart track and motocross tracks, a technology park to progress motorsport equipment, and a race academy to develop young elite riders and drivers. A planning application is expected at the end of the month and announcements including detailed designs, the selection of the preferred development partner, industrial partnerships and key events, will come later this year.

The 830-acre site would also have an international kart track and motorcross track and a racing academy. Details about the centre, which would bring 9,000 new jobs, went on show at Rassau Community Hall last night.

This was the first of nine public consultation sessions to be held across Blaenau Gwent over the next fortnight. Resident JP Healey said: "It's a good investmentand the opportunity for youngsters to be in full time employment which they've never had since the closure of the Ebbw Vale steelworks."

He said this will be an incentive for youngsters to earn money and be independent. David Herbert, 64, said: "We're in favour of the plans as such but were a bit disappointed with the exhibition. We were looking for a bit more detail about what could happen."

Janice Cotterell, 51, said she had concerns about parking and widening the access road near her home but said she was given assurances about this at the exhibition. She said: "I think it's going to be good for the area." Philip Cleaton and 14 other members from Ralley Stage Team visited the exhibition yesterday.

Mr Cleaton said: "Its nice to see something like this coming to the Valleys." Feedback from local residents will then be used before the plans are submitted to the local council next month. If the plans are approved, work could start early next year and the complex opening in 2015. Ebbw Vale could be the new home for British motorsport with the events reaching more than 100 million households and is expected to boost the Welsh economy by £50 million a year in tourism and business investment.

As things stand at the moment, the 20-year-old is second choice to Ben Williams, snapped up by Fenlon from Colchester United last week as negotiations over a new contract for Mark Brown appear to have stalled. Antell, who was born in Abergavenny, but raised in Ebbw Vale, is a member of the squad based in the Netherlands for Hibs’ mini-European tour and, he revealed, he’s hoping to catch Fenlon’s eye by getting some game time in the remaining matches, tonight’s clash with Belgian outfit OH Leuven, against a Zeeland Select tomorrow or in Tuesday’s final fixture with Union Berlin in Germany.

The former Welsh Under-19 internationalist joined Hibs as an Academy player two years ago having spent a similar period on a scholarship with Swindon Town. before graduating into the professional ranks last summer.

But with Graham Stack and Brown contesting the No 1 slot last season he was loaned out to East Stirling and was a great success with The Shire, an ever-present in John Coughlin’s side, captaining the team and winning two player of the ear awards. However, East Stirling ended up bottom of the Third Division for the sixth time in ten years with Antell forced to pick the ball out of the net 86 times in the 35 League matches he played plus another three in a League Cup defeat by Dumbarton.

Antell has been limited to just two substitute appearances for Hibs, both coincidentally against East Fife in Methil, last weekend’s 2-0 win and a 3-1 victory a year ago. But now he is looking forward to gaining as much first-team experience as possible. He said: “I’m really pleased to have agreed my new contract and I’m looking forward to the next year with Hibs. “Last year was a real learning curve for me and I felt I learned a massive amount during my time at East Stirling – it helped me to develop as a goalkeeper.

“Now I’m aiming to play as much as I can for Hibs and hopefully I will get some game-time during the tour. I’m keen to learn as much as I can from [goalkeeping coach] Scott Thomson and also from Ben, so that I can become a better keeper.” Midfield star Isaiah Osbourne’s move to English Championship club Blackpool has finally gone through after five days of negotiation. His departure from Easter Road halfway through his two-year contract is said to have netted Hibs a six-figure sum.

Meanwhile, Fenlon has denied claims Dutch defender Norichio Nieveld will be joining his squad for the remainder of their mini-tour of Europe. A report emanating from the Netherlands had suggested the 23-year-old, freed by Feynoord at the end of last season, was to begin a short trial but Fenlon insisted that other than former Hearts star Alan Maybury, he doesn’t envisage any trialists arriving before Hibs return to Edinburgh on Wednesday. • Hibs Under-20s clinched the Foyle Cup with a 1-0 win over Ballymena at Ardmore thanks to a goal from striker Jay Doyle.

• Former Hibs star Ian Murray is on trial with Jim Jefferies’ Dunfermline Athletic.