A major development of 32 homes and new industrial units in Moretonhampstead has been rejected by Dartmoor National Park's development control committee despite legal advice that their position could be hard to justify. Planning officer Colin Jarvis had recommended the plan for the former Gales Saw Mills, Court Street, saying it complied with the local plan and after the developer, Steven Homes, agreed to contribute to the costs of schooling and an extension to Betton Way. County highways engineers had raised no objections, nor had Teignbridge Council, as eight of the homes were allocated for either social housing or reduced cost purchase. But resistance came from John Laflin who, although speaking as an individual, is chairman of the parish council which, as a body, has objected. He said the town was still getting used to the 70 new homes built within the last two years and that another 32 would 'severely stretch our resources'. He said Court Street would suffer from additional traffic and the town would lose valuable employment land to housing 'that it does not require'. Committee member, Dr Ian Mortimore, agreed and said the Betton Way extension would 'do nothing' to help traffic flow. Maurice Retallick was concerned about access and Linda Bennett said half the homes should be affordable and that losing employment land would result in residents having to find work elsewhere. 'We don't want Moretonhampstead to become a dormitory town for Exeter,' she said. Asked by chairman Nigel Hoskin, for his advice the DNPA solicitor, Chris Walledge, said: 'The authority needs to be extremely careful.' He said refusing on grounds of poor access wouldn't stand up at appeal and it would have to be proven that the traffic generated by the development would be 'untenable' if that argument was to be used. After much more debate and a warning that the authority could be liable for costs should the developers appeal and win, a majority vote for refusal was recorded.
