PLANS for a modern round house in a prominent and historic area of Tavistock have been unanimously rejected by borough councillors. The four-storey house for land between Watts Road and West Street was described as an ?eyesore? by West Devon Borough Council ward member for Tavistock North Shaun Watchorn. Seventeen letters of objection had been sent to the planning authority from local residents saying the development was out of keeping with the conservation area and raising concerns about backland development, overlooking and drainage problems. The application was supported by planning officers, including the conservation and design officer who said it would have a ?positive and beneficial effect?. The planning committee was shown a montage of how the building would look in the landscape and members attended a recent site meeting. The existing properties are mainly Victorian. Local resident Chris Dicker spoke on behalf of opponents to the plan: ?This is the wrong building in the wrong place. It is backland development which goes against everything a conservation area stands for and sets a very dangerous precedent.? He referred to a ?less radical? planning application for 13 Watts Road which was turned down because it did not enhance of preserve the conservation area: ?If No 13 was unsuitable then this application can only be described as abhorrent.? Members raised concerns about the loss of a large sycamore tree which was dominant in the landscape but applicant Richard Baker, a member of staff at West Devon Borough Council, said it was graded C by an expert in a grading system which went from A-D and not considered worthy of a Tree Preservation Order. Cllr Watchorn said: ?The design is not in keeping with a Victorian terrace. It would be visible from a large area of Tavistock.? Cllr Dick Eberlie said this was a ?brave, innovative and interesting building? but in the wrong place: ?We have some good innovative designs behind West Street but the frontages have remained traditional.? Cllr Mandy Govier said Watts Road was built in the 1870s as mining captains? houses and was the only road in Tavistock which had been left in its original state.