A PROPOSAL for a 33-space car park to serve Whitchurch Village Hall has been slammed as 'excessive' and 'visually intrusive' by local residents.

But the applicants say the facility will be used by visitors to the church, the pub and the hall and hopefully stop the problem of cars parking on the road in the village.

The proposed site is in a field opposite the Grade II listed St Andrew's Church which contains the footpath between Whitchurch and Middlemoor.

Ian Smith, who lives adjacent to the site, said the size was excessive for a village location.

'The planned area will contain parking for 33 vehicles with no screening — just wire stock proof fencing including barbed wire,' he said.

'The historic view of the church from the footpath to Middlemoor and all prominent points towards St Andrew's Church which have been enjoyed by generations of walkers will be scarred by a mass of cars.

'It is virtually impossible to think of a more prominent and visually intrusive site for such a development as this.'

Dr James Allenby, who also lives near the proposal, said there were a number of people who had strong reservations about the application.

'There should be a Devon bank around it,' he said.

'Also there are no plans to put yellow lines down in the village which negates the whole thing because people will continue parking on the road — they won't walk an extra ten yards to the car park.'

Opponents have suggested a car park closer to the village hall, on lower ground, but vice chairman of the Whitchurch Community Hall Trust Andrew Mier said the chosen site was fairly flat.

'It would involve some levelling but the land nearer to the hall would be more difficult as the ground dips away quite steeply,' he said.

Mr Mier said it was a joint project between the hall, the Whitchurch Inn and the church.

'There is no car park facility for any of these places so people park on the road causing congestion and a danger to pedestrians,' he said.

'This car park would be free and hopefully drivers will be sensible and use it instead of the road,'

Anyone who wants to express a view on this planning application must write to West Devon Borough Council's planning department by March 29.