Any hope of Kingsteigntion remaining in control of its destiny must mean giving up the claim to be one of Britain's largest villages and formally adopting town status.

That was the clear message from the leader of the parish council on Wednesday when the community's future was the subject of debate.

If his idea finds favour it would be a case of back to the future as 26 years ago the community took the very same step.

In 1982 the 11,000 strong community was officially recognised as a town but an angry response from residents resulted in a referendum and the restoration of village status.

On Wednesday, Cllr Mike Walters told his colleagues that faced with possible large scale development and the possibility of a single unitary authority replacing the eight Devon district councils next year, including Teignbridge, Kingsteignton was under threat.

He said new 'cluster' proposals for giving town and parish councils more power would place the village further under Newton Abbot's shadow.

'I fear we are suffering from something of an identity crisis,' he said.

'A change to a town may be needed to protect that identity. The parish council can make that decision off its own bat and I think we would have the support of the public the way things are going.'

His colleague Cllr Edna Wickham agreed.

'Our way ahead in Kingsteignton is to become a town and gain independence,' she said.

Cllr Steve Hall said he thought there was too much outside control influencing life in Kingsteignton.

He agreed with Cllr Ken Tuckett whose solution was for the council to adopt a plan of action, separate to the community plan which is about to emerge, and shape the community's future.

Cllr Hall referred to the £20 million 'field of dreams' sports complex announced by Devon County Council last month.

'That wasn't mentioned by anybody in the community plan,' he said.

'Are we being dictated to again? Let's take control and more interest in the village we live in and not leave it to other people.'

Cllr David Cameron said: 'We must have a parish plan to show we are now someone to be reckoned with. We have been walked over and left out of the consultation loop too often.'

Cllr Tuckett warned: 'If we don't get a [parish] plan we are going to be swallowed up by Newton Abbot.'

The subject is to be brought back to the chamber for further debate later this year.