Newton Abbot town councillors are concerned that the 1,700 homes planned for redundant clay pits at Kingsteignton could flood.

Their comments were made at a meeting of the town council on Wednesday evening during which they were given a presentation by WBB Minerals and its development partner, Arnold White Estates.

WBB resources director Gary Stringer, and AWE's chief executive Bob Williams, outlined the company's plans for the land two days after Teignbridge planning officers gave their backing to the 'northern option' for future growth in Newton Abbot.

Mr Williams said that extensive research carried out by the Environment Agency had produced a computer model which could predict one in one hundred year flooding scenarios.

'A huge amount of time and expertise has gone into this,' he said. 'This exercise has identified the flood plain.'

Mr Stringer said that mitigation measures which included widening the River Teign flood plain and encapsulating it within raised banks would prevent flooding in the areas earmarked for development and remove 200 existing properties from the current flood-risk area.

First of the town councillors to voice his concern was former WBB employee Cllr Mike Hocking, who said: 'Certainly what you've said doesn't fill me with confidence.'

He said that expert advice in the past had been shown to be fallible. He asked: 'Is there any way you can convince me and the people of Newton Abbot that your scheme will stop the flooding?'

Cllr Reg Wills also had concerns about the scheme and argued that the strength of tidal flow in the Teign estuary was a major challenge.

'It comes up like a Severn Bore through Whitelake,' he said.

Commenting on Devon County Council's demand that the developers build a new link road behind the current Tesco store if their bigger plans were to find favour, he said: 'I'm surprised that the county ever proposed a road there.'

Cllr Wills also pledged to fight a proposed 'out-of-centre' retail park and said: 'I can see even more going on to the detriment of Newton Abbot.'

After further flooding concerns were expressed by Cllr Henry Cole, a lone voice in support of 'the other side' was heard from Cllr David Howe.

He said the government wouldn't permit building on a flood plain and commented: 'I just can't go along with all this scaremongering.'