A MULTI–USE games area in Osborne Park, Newton Abbot, has been given the go-ahead by Devon county planners.

The fenced community games area, for use by All Saints (Marsh) C of E Primary School during term time, will be floodlit until 9pm despite recommendations by county environment director Edward Chorlton that it would impact on the visual amenity and nearby residents.

In a report to the committee meeting on Wednesday of last week, Mr Chorlton said that '10 metres high floodlight masts would be a particularly visually intrusive feature', adding that noise in the evenings 'would be lessened if permission for floodlighting is not granted.'

But councillors agreed to grant permission so the area can be used by community groups in the evenings.

Cllr Graham Wickham said: 'A point of issue was flood lighting, we listened to the points raised by the headteacher at the primary school and the fact that both the town council and district council wished for the area to be used as a community facility.

'We agreed to have flood lighting and it is important to stress that it will be off by 9pm, and in the summer, it will not be needed at all.'

Plans include a three metre high PVC coated perimeter fence that will be increased to five metres behind goal posts, access path and storage shed. The proposals are subject to risk assessments because of the nearby electric substation.

Residents who live in nearby sheltered accommodation have petitioned about the siting of the half-sized pitch, additional noise, light pollution and vandalism.

Concerns include proximity of the games area to sheltered accommodation, the electric sub-station and listed building, The Maltings.

Rowdy behaviour, parking and flooding are other concerns.

Hameldown Road resident Eileen Silverthorne said: 'This site is totally unsuitable. What other site, if any, have been considered, which would meet the needs of the school? We have existing, largely unused facilities, with toilets, at Forde Park. We also have the Cricketfield facilities.'

The site, the only one within walking distance of the school, will allow children to extend their curriculum, said headteacher Kathryn Batcock.

'It means that we will be able to do sport everyday, it is very high profile at the moment that children are not as healthy as they used to be.

'We do swimming and tennis and we can now extend the range of sport to improve their fitness levels,' she said.

The scheme will be a joint venture between the school and Teignbridge council and it thought that the Newton Abbot Recreation Association will run the facility outside of term time.

The project will be government funded by the New Opportunities Fund and it is hoped that work will begin later this year.

'We are absolutely thrilled and delighted. It represents almost four years of work at the school, trying to sort out the difficulties to find somewhere for the children to do PE,' she said