A CONTROVERSIAL Ivybridge planning application – due to be considered by South Hams Council development management committee last week – was deferred at the last minute.
The proposal, to convert a redundant barn at Woodland Farm into three residential properties, has led to vocal objections from locals due to the proposed use of an access off Kennel Lane, and the creation of another.
Objectors say the lane is unsuitable for motor vehicles, and an increase in the current low level of traffic would pose a danger to those who use it, many of who are children, disabled people, or mothers with toddlers and babies in prams.
They also say the lane has an active traffic order dating from 1986, prohibiting traffic except for agricultural vehicles serving the farm.
The decision to defer consideration of the application from Sept-ember 2 to September 23 appears to have coincided with the submission to South Hams Council, by a member of the public, of the original minutes of the 1986 meeting that made that order.
Local resident Chris Hatch is one of a group that is leading the opposition.
He stressed that objectors were not against the development itself, but only the access from Kennel Lane, and says there is a ‘historic right of access’ through Wood-land Farm itself that could be used instead.
Devon Highways, which has to be consulted on the plans, has made four separate responses to the application, which are displayed on South Hams Council’s planning pages.
It accepts the existence of the 1986 order, but has now said that it would be acceptable for the developers to pay to change it, and put in appropriate signs.
Highways says the amount of traffic likely to be generated by the development does not warrant an objection to the plans.
In his report to the development committee, South Hams Council’s planning officer for the case recommended conditional approval.
He said ‘the principle’ of vehicle access is established by the currently permitted agricultural use, and the presence of the existing access onto the lane.’