A deal appears to have been struck between Teignbridge Council and pottery firm British Ceramic Tile, which should result in the protection of one of Britain's rarest plants. The firm had objected to the council's plan to extend a County Wildlife Site at Heathfield, where the pennyroyal grows on a small pocket of heathland. It said that the added protection could scupper future plans to develop the land and, in a letter to Teignbridge chief executive Nicola Bulbeck, claimed the council might not have dealt with the situation in 'an acceptable, fair and reasonable way'. But following a site meeting on August 16, the council has said that BCT was now 'content' with the proposed boundary of the extended wildlife site. The council had agreed to amend the wording in documentation relating to the site which meant that development wouldn't be ruled out 'as long as suitable measures are identified to protect the ecological features present'. The deal is to go before senior Teignbridge councillors for approval when the executive meets on Monday.
