A FAILURE to determine a controversial application to install parking meters in two West Devon car parks was this week slammed by the applicants. Maristow Estates had applied for planning consent to install the meters and signage at St Paul?s Church car park and Leg o? Mutton car park. The application has sparked strong opposition from residents and Buckland Monachorum Parish Council ? many fear the move will simply drive car owners to leave their vehicles in other residential areas or on the moors. But Dartmoor National Park Authority?s planning committee this month ignored the officer?s recommendation to grant the application and deferred it. Planning officer Jo Burgess said members felt the authority ?wore more hats than just a planning hat? and they wanted to talk to Maristow Estates to see if charging in the two car parks could be avoided. ?There will be a meeting with Maristow at some time in the next couple of weeks to see if there is another way around this,? she said. But Joe Hess, speaking on behalf of Maristow, was angered by the delay: ?It?s tremendously frustrating they have chosen to defer this at the point of the meeting. If they wanted to meet with Maristow, why didn?t they contact my client when the application was submitted? ?I have every sympathy for the planning officers, but the members have handled it completely unprofessionally.? Mr Hess said the reasons given for deferral were ?very questionable? and the estate would be taking advice on the matter. ?It?s not been deferred on planning grounds ? in my view the authority has failed in its duty to determine an application in accordance with planning legislation,? he said.