RESIDENTS fighting to stop homes being built on the former Tavistock hockey pitch off Grenville Drive say road safety concerns are at the forefront of their campaign. It is feared access to the already congested Grenville Drive from the A386 will become even more difficult should Bishop Acklam Developments Ltd be granted permission to build 33 homes. More than 50 angry residents from the Grenville Drive area attended a public meeting at the sheltered housing complex, Armada Court, last Sunday to voice their concerns. Warden of the complex Cherry Skibinski said because the estate road was frequently blocked with parked vehicles each side, the Ring and Ride bus had to leave elderly passengers on the main A386. The refuse lorry could not get up the road and neither could a fire engine in an emergency, the meeting was told. 'There are six areas of housing here with people all using the same exit,' said Mrs Skibinski. 'It does not matter what time of day it is, it is chock-a- block with cars.' Local resident Brian McGregor said there had been several near misses at the junction. 'I understood that three years ago Grenville Drive was at saturation point and here we are with more housing proposed,' he said. 'I do not want to see any more vehicles use that road because it will increase the danger. 'Just the other day, someone with a mobility scooter nearly got hit by a car coming the other way because he was trying to get around the parked cars which had mounted the pavement.' The application is also being opposed on flooding issues and environmental concerns: 'The issue of ground water is a real concern,' added Mr McGregor. 'The ground is always wet and where would the water go if the land was built on?' West Devon Borough councillor Alison Clish-Green said vehicles often had to back onto the main A386 to let cars out of Grenville Drive. 'Just imagine how much worse this would be if a further potential 60 vehicles were trying to get in or out.' She said inadequate residents' parking and workers wanting to park for free in the town's side streets instead of using the car parks had resulted in the congestion. Double yellow lines were discussed as an option but not everyone thought this was the solution. Cllr Clish Green added that bats were roosting and breeding on the site and were a protected species. 'This oasis of green open space is a haven for wildlife, both flora and fauna, and in my opinion should remain as such. 'I would like the land safeguarded as a permanent environmental open space — there has been more than enough greenfield development in Tavistock's South West ward, it is rapidly becoming an urban sprawl.' West Devon Borough Council's planning committee will discuss the application on March 4, following a site meeting this week. Planning officer Ed Persse said a traffic impact survey had been carried out at the site and county highways had raised no objections to the plans but there were concerns over drainage. 'The area is outside the flood zone as far as flooding from the River Tavy is concerned but surface water drainage is another issue,' said Mr Persse. 'We are not happy with what is being proposed to deal with that at the moment.' No-one from Bishop Acklam Developments was available for comment this week, but previously director Phill Gill told the Times any worries about highways concerns would be dealt with through the planning process He has said that from a personal point of view he would be more than happy to meet residents to discuss any points they might have. Being sympathetic to the surroundings of their projects was an integral part of the business, he said.
