EMOTIONAL pleas to leave a Dartmoor beauty spot free from development were heard by West Devon planners this week who have objected to plans by South West Water to commercialise the area.

Fears have been expressed that Dartmoor is being turned into a theme park and proposals for Burrator are the 'thin end of the wedge'.

Members of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee were asked to give their views on an application for Burrator Lodge which has been submitted to the Dartmoor National Park Authority for determination.

The educational aspect of the scheme which is an environmental interpretation room, plus the ranger's office and additions to the 100-year-old building namely an external staircase and entrance porch were supported by members but concerns were raised over a cafe and 52-space car park, for which the water company reserves the right to charge.

It was the committee's view that the car parking space should be restricted and ancillary to the educational aspects.

Ward member for Burrator Cllr Nicholas Waterhouse said a car park of the size requested was likely to generate additional traffic to the area which was what the local people did not want and the cafe was 'inappropriate'.

Dr Tom Greeves of the Dartmoor Preservation Association and the Dartmoor Society to Protect Dartmoor (Friends of Burrator) described the plans as 'threatening Burrator's very essence as a quiet and natural historic environment.'

'The bodies I represent and the hundreds of people who have objected to the application through letters, petitions and parish meetings, know that the intended development will irreversibly change Burrator from a place of quiet informal recreation, successful because it has virtually no facilities, to one where a marketing culture will become dominant,' he said.

He said the application ignored Government conservation advice in planning policies and fell foul of numerous conservation and traffic management principles.

Sheepstor resident Graham Palmer said visitors came from all walks of life to Burrator.

'They love it for its unspoilt beauty and that is the attraction of Burrator,' he said. 'Any development of that site would be to commit sacrilege.'

Improving visitor facilities, including those for the disabled and increasing environmental awareness were the advantages of the scheme, the committee was told by agent for the applicant Jennifer Smith.

She said there was no intention to create a 'honey pot' or attract a lot more visitors

'The car park would relieve parking on the verges,' she said. 'The cafe will accommodate 30 people and the car park 52 — this is unlikely to attract a significant number of visitors.'

South West Water planned to hand the running of its facilities over to a independent charitable trust, she told the committee.

The application will be discussed by Burrator Parish Council on January 27 and Dartmoor National Park on March 3.