A well-established Devon fairground family has applied for planning permission to convert a two-and-a-half acre former Forestry Commission compound at Heathfield into quarters for travelling showpeople.

Carousel Holdings Devon Ltd, of Antonine Crescent, Redhills, Exeter, has submitted the application to Teignbridge Council.

The firm is run by John Shepheard, a fifth generation member of the Whitelegg family whose fairground history is documented in the book, T Whitelegg and Sons Cavalcade of Shows. Mr Shepheard was born in Plymouth and has lived and worked in Teignbridge since he was 14 years old. His sister owns and operates the family arcade at Dawlish Warren. Mr Shepheard is seeking permission for a change of use on the land which lies to the west of Newton Road and opposite Dragoon Close.

It is surrounded on three sides by trees which form part of The Great Plantation and is close to the Bovey Cross Grange Trading Estate. In an 83-page submission which accompanies the application, it states that permission is sought for the siting of up to 11 individual showmen's caravans and 'some small goods vehicles'.

In addition, there would be an area for commercial vehicle storage and maintenance of fairground equipment. While a number of the pitches would be used by working families who would be away at times, some of the residents are expected to be retired and likely to live on site for most of the year.

The submission states: 'The proposal is to provide a much-needed site for travelling showpeople. The showpeople will be members of the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain and a condition ensuring such would be acceptable on the planning consent.'

It adds that across Devon there are only four showmen's sites, each of which is full. The Shepheard's previous site in Exeter was sold by liquidators in 1999 since when an alternative has been sought. The application is likely to be considered by Teignbridge Council within the next two months. The applicant's agent was unavailable for comment.