Newton Abbot could soon have a new NHS dental clinic if planning permission is granted to change the use of Tower House, Courtenay Park, writes Dawn Ellis. The five dentists, who would be housed in the surgery, have already secured a three-year NHS contract and want to expand an existing practice. Hallmark Developments want to demolish an existing single-storey extension and garage to form a two-storey extension for the dental surgery. Representatives from Hallmark, Ken Harwood and Rob Baker, impressed Newton Abbot Town Council Planning Committee with the plans for the old building at its meeting on Monday. 'We would like to renovate and extend the building for NHS dentistry,' said Mr Baker 'We won't be altering the front of the building, just restoring it to all its glory,' added Mr Harwood. As well as usual dental services, there would be full disabled facilities on the ground floor, plus a full-time children's dentist and a dedicated children's waiting room. Despite seeming happy with the application, the councillors expressed their concerns about the lack of car parking spaces, as only four have been allocated. 'Teignbridge Council thought the amount of restricted parking in the area was sufficient. There is a lot of short-stay car parking available near to the building,' said Mr Harwood. 'Dentists are needed in town centres, but unfortunately there isn't always parking.' Cllr Daphne Watts said that there were car parks within walking distance of the proposed site and a dentist nearby didn't have any parking provision. She was backed by Cllr Lyn Ryan and mayor Cllr Ken Lewis. A letter from a neighbouring resident objecting to the application was also distributed to the committee. Mr and Mrs S M Garner believe the site would be overdeveloped, feel there would be a loss of personal amenity with regards to acquired light, noise and privacy and the increase of traffic would be hazardous to other road users and pedestrians and put a strain on parking in the area. The committee decided to recommend approval subject to the conservation officer and highways department being satisfied with the proposals.
