A MAJOR effort to protect a large area of West Devon with a protective status is being made public to the local communities.

Spearheaded by environmental protection group MABRAKE (Milton Abbot Bradstone and KElly) the proposal is to protect an area with AONB status (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

The area planned for the status forms a rough triangle between Tavistock, Lifton and Sourton, bordered by the Tamar Valley AONB and Dartmoor National Park.

Chris Burchell, MABRAKE lead on the AONB project, said: ‘A recent survey by Milton Abbot Grouped Parish Council demonstrated overwhelming support from residents for their area to have AONB status.

‘MABRAKE and councillors are realistic about the extra planning strictures that AONB status brings. However, the benefits to be gained by protecting our region from unwarranted ugly developments which ruin the landscape, we feel it is worth the extra inconvenience.

‘AONB status also potentially unleashes extra sources of funding for tourism, farming, education and environmental projects.’

West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox has said he supported the idea, along with many of the parish councils affected.

Mr Cox said: ‘The area between the Dartmoor National Park and the Tamar Valley AONB includes some of the most exquisite parts of our local countryside and it does seem anomalous that it is not protected by any enhanced landscape designation.?There will be many factors to consider in extending the boundaries of the AONB, however, based on the discussions I have had so far, I am persuaded that the current boundaries do not do justice to the need to protect some of our most sensitive landscapes in West Devon.’

Mr Burchell added: ‘The proposal, in broad outline, has been forwarded to Natural England (DEFRA), which will put the idea out to public consultation.’

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