PLANS for a major leisure development on the edge of Tavistock cleared the final hurdle this week when councillors gave the go-ahead for the scheme.

The proposed development at Wilminstone Quarry includes a gym, swimming pool, all-weather pitch, dry-ski slope, squash courts and the use of the quarry for water sports and rock climbing. It would create eight full-time and 21 part-time jobs.

A manager's house and holiday accommodation comprising eight bunk houses and four lodges are also part of the scheme and a nature reserve has been included.

The application, by David Trathen, was referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment after members of West Devon Council's planning committee approved it in June — against the recommendations of planning officers. Councillors felt the economic benefits of the development outweighed policy issues.

But their approval was subject to agreement of a detailed scheme for management of the site in the interests of nature conservation — peregrine falcons, kestrels and badgers are present in the area.

The Secretary of State decided not to 'call in' the application, which was then referred back for the agreement to be drawn up.

A dispute arose over a small horseshoe-shaped area of the site. The resulting variation in the area covered by the agreement to exclude that part needed the approval of the planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday.

Jane Green, planning services manager, said the small area concerned was 'not considered to be of significance'. Planning conditions would still apply to the whole site. She added that officers' opinions on the application as a whole had not changed, and they were still against it.

Mr Trathen said the dispute was over a boundary line — whether it was at the top or the bottom of a bank — and only a small area of woodland was concerned.

He stressed it was 15 months since the planning application was first submitted and said that since the original planning approval he had cleared the site, and more than 1,000 people had used it — Kelly College alone had used it on 16 occasions.

'There is a short window of opportunity to get work done on the site, as nothing can be done between February 1 and July 1,' Mr Trathen said, adding that he would like a decision sooner rather than later as winter was approaching.

Planning committee chairman Roger Mathew said, as a local member, he did not know why the committee had previously supported the application.

'This technicality now gives an opportunity to reconsider,' he said. 'We should think very carefully before allowing for the second time an application that does not meet policies and should only be allowed if it is of national importance.'

But Conservative Group leader Cllr Richard Eberlie said the development would be to the benefit of Tavistock and the surrounding area, bringing visitors, tourism and business to the town.

He had originally believed it had gone too far and would cause noise and annoyance to neighbours, but the application had since been modified and he would not expect the committee 'to stand on their heads' and refuse it now.

Councillors approved the amendment to the agreement with only Cllr Mathew against.

Twenty-three conditions to the approval remain, including no construction of holiday accommodation until all leisure facilities have been completed and a number of restrictions to lessen the impact of noise and disturbance for neighbours.

Objections to the scheme were that it would have an adverse affect of wildlife, would involve increased traffic and noise and would not be in keeping with the rural surroundings.

Mr Trathen said after the meeting that he was 'very pleased that common sense had finally prevailed' and he looked forward to receiving the written planning consent without further delay.

He was unable to give a completion date for the development without knowing when the consent would be received.