Residents of Tavistock's Dolvin Road are to be given car spaces in the Abbey Rise park, instead of on the Abbey Garage site as they requested.

A committee of West Devon Borough Council this week rejected a plea by the 22 residents to establish a park on the former Abbey Garage site which they say was originally intended and set out in the Local Plan.

The residents have been waiting since the A386 relief road was built in 1994 for a council promise to find them new parking places to be fulfilled.

A plan to build a park on the ATS site in Parkwood Road fell through when the tyre company withdrew from the sale. Meanwhile, residents have been given permits at the Abbey Rise and Brook Street car parks.

Helen Metcalfe, for the residents, wrote to the council that the Abbey Garage site was closer to their homes and offered greater security. The Abbey Rise park could not allow surveillance from nearby houses and seemed to attract crime, she said.

But the council's strategic development committee voted without opposition for the alternative proposal put forward by its officers.

Deputy chief executive David Inman said consultants had advised that the Abbey Garage scheme would be too expensive. The Abbey Rise alternative gave more flexibility, as the number of allocated spaces could be varied.

The quota for Dolvin Road residents should be increased by five to 11 spaces. Three of those should be kept for people who had lived there since 1985. The other eight should be on a first come-first served basis, with all residents allowed to use the general park.

Residents could use the Brook Street car park if they preferred. This could have been an alternative but it was sometimes gated overnight. The Abbey Rise and Brook Street car parks would both be brought up to the national security standard.

Abbey Garage was 'a particularly visual site', said Mr Inman, and it was important that its development was not limited by a car park.

Chief executive David Incoll backed him up, saying that the Abbey Garage site could make a much better contribution to the landscape of the area if it were not tied to a car park.

Cllr Dick Eberlie said he supported the recommendation provided police could ensure adequate security. He said there needed to be a 'cut-off point' for the council's commitment to the Dolvin Road residents.

But Cllr Roger Mathew said he was worried by this idea. 'There was no limit when the undertaking was made by the council,' he said.

Heather Badgery, a Dolvin Road resident, said the decision was 'disgraceful. The council has reneged on its promises, she claimed.

'Abbey Rise is a lot further to walk, especially if you are not well, the weather is bad and you have small children,' she said.

'I have had my car vandalised several times at Abbey Rise. I've no idea what I'll do — I'd move if I could, but I can't.'

The committee agreed to dispose of the Abbey Garage site by seeking a nominated developer, taking into account financial considerations, design and community benefits.

It rejected a proposal, backed by Cllr Eberlie and Cllr Robin Pike, to invite tenders for the property and sell to the highest bidder, in order to get the business finished as quickly as possible.