TEIGNBRIDGE councillors have been rapped by a planning inspector for refusing an application to allow a new Shaldon cafe to serve takeaway food.

The development control committee is accused of inconsistency and not providing any substantive reasons for rejecting permission at the new cafe at The Ness car park, owned by Tim Bouget, who already runs a restaurant in the village.

Members went against officer advice in turning down the application.

Allowing an appeal, the inspector, Martyn Single, said there was no evidence to support concerns that allowing the cafe to provide food to be taken off the premises would have an unacceptable impact on the coastal preservation area and area of great landscape value due to an increase in litter, unconsumed food and vermin.