Protesters gathered near Newton Abbot this morning to prevent contractors further damaging fields at the site of the proposed NA3 development at Wolborough Barton.

Contractors have been excavating the site near Coach Road for the past couple of weeks despite Teignbridge District Council rejecting plans for homes on the site in December.

The protesters are concerned that work on the site is damaging environmentally sensitive conservation areas including the Wolborough Fen site of special scientific interest (SSSI) and a County Wildlife Site (CWS) at Stray Park Meadow.

Teignbridge District Council confirmed that it is today ‘serving a temporary stop notice on The Vistry Group for a potential breach of planning control at the Wolborough Barton NA3 development in Newton Abbot’.

A spokesperson for Vistry Group commented: ‘We will continue to work in partnership with Teignbridge Council to resolve any concerns they have and to ensure that recommended planning procedures are adhered to.’

Local dog walker Pete Eggbeer, who was among the protesters at the site this morning, told the Mid Devon Advertiser ‘it was all very peaceful, there was no animosity, but we wanted to press home a point’.

Police were also in attendance. A spokesperson from Devon and Cornwall Police reported that ‘a couple of officers from the local neighbourhood team popped down to engage with both parties and ensure there was no breach of the peace. There were no issues.’

‘Teignbridge have allowed the work to continue. The area has been a hive of activity with the developers ploughing on regardless,’ Pete added. ‘We feel the stop orders should have been issued months ago.’

The proposed development incudes 1,200 new properties, along with roads, open spaces and community facilities.