An impassioned debate, accusations of politicking and two recorded votes were part of the process on Monday before an expansion of the controversial CLS laundry at Decoy, Newton Abbot, was given the go-ahead. The 2,550 sq ft expansion of the 'appalling obscenity', as Cllr Gordon Hook described it, was applied for by Combined Linen Services Ltd to replace outdoor soiled linen containers. Architect Vic Maskell, said the bid was 'modest' and would not add to noise or light pollution as the new building would have neither machinery nor external lighting. He said the appearance would echo that of the existing blue and metal structure and that he was 'pleased with the design solution'. Cllr Keith Smith said the extension was larger than most houses and the existing building was 'a cross we all have to bear'. To extend it would be 'compounding an insult', he said. Cllr David Howe said it was 'a blot on the landscape' but suggested the extension, if it were painted green, could hide much of it. He also called for quick-growing trees such as leylandii to be planted with which to provide screening until slower-growing trees had matured. Several other councillors said they would be more inclined to favour the plan if the extension – possibly the whole building – were painted green. Head of development control John Collier-Marsh said it would be 'unreasonable' to impose such a condition on the whole building and that the extension represented an increase of just seven per cent on the original building. With no expected noise or light problems and no highways issues he had to recommend approval subject to landscaping and other conditions. Cllr David Corney-Walker called for a recorded vote so residents would know who had voted in favour. A supporter of the extension, Cllr Humphrey Clemens, said people did not have to look at the CLS building if they did not want to and argued that if the application was refused it would be saying 'forget it' to potential investors. He said the original planning permission had had a 'big impact' on district politics and that it was 'no coincidence' that the call for a recorded vote came just months ahead of the local elections In the two ballots that followed, supporters of the scheme were successful by just one vote each time. Councillors who had not been present for the entire debate were advised by the solicitor to abstain, prompting Cllr Vince Fusco to say that the vote could well have gone the other way had they not slipped out merely to fetch a coffee.
