PERSIMMON Homes has failed to get agreement for a new access on to its Mile End site.

The developer has outline permission for 337 new homes on the greenfield site with access currently agreed off Ashburton Road.

Now it wants full access to the site from Mile End Road, previously restricted to walkers, cyclists and emergency vehicles.

Members of Teignbridge Council's Planning Committee heard on Monday that the number of objections had risen to 31.

Resident Howard Duke said the council's own website displayed 50 letters of objection.

Residents object to losing on-street parking and fear that more traffic will use Mile End Road as a rat run to avoid Newton Abbot town centre.

Mr Duke told the committee: 'The reason they [Persimmon] are looking for another access is because they have just sold half the site to another developer, therefore they would lose their access via Ashburton Road.'

Agent Robin Upton, speaking for Persimmon Homes (SW) Ltd ,assured members that the new access would not lead to more traffic and that the Highways Authority now supported the application.

Some questioned the Highways Authority's change of heart. Initially the authority had concerns that the narrowness of the road would cause conflict between cars and people.

Cllr Beryl Austen said: 'Five days later they had no objections at all. It makes one wonder what happened in those five days.'

She said it was unreasonable to take away residents' parking outside their homes to put it somewhere else.

Cllr Anne Fry spoke to the committee on behalf of Bradley ward member Cllr Mike Hocking, who was unable to attend.

She said the developer had initially promised not to seek an access off Mile End Road.

Planning service manager Nick Davies reminded members that highways did not object and that if thwarted, Persimmons would be likely to appeal.

This clearly irritated Cllr Rosalind Prowse who said they were talking about people's quality of life.

'We should not have this held as a pistol to our heads when anything we are questioning comes up in this chamber. The access in the original plans should stay. We had a public meeting, talked it all through, now they want to change it.'

Cllr Sylvia Russell remarked: 'The bigger the developer the more they think they can get away with,' prompting clapping from the public gallery.

The application was refused by 16 votes to two.

Members agreed to the applicant's request to defer agreement on layout and design, landscaping and other matters until February.