residents will get the chance to voice their protests at a revised application to build 25 homes on a site at Kimberlands, Northlew, at a public meeting to be held next week. Northlew Parish Council this week decided to invite the public to a meeting at the Victory Hall in Northlew next Thursday (March 31) at 7.30pm to discuss the application by Sunnybank Homes for housing development in the village. Dick Tanner, vice-chair of the parish council, said he believed a development of the size proposed would cause problems of vehicle access on the narrow roads leading to the village. He said many residents were ?irate? about the latest application which they felt did not address the concerns raised at the time of the original application last year. In 1997, West Devon?s Local Plan, identified the land at Kimberlands for further housing development. But Mr Tanner points to the fact the plan states: ?An improvement in the access from Kimber Lane will need to be provided with any development of this site.? Mr Tanner said: ?If the proposed development is approved how are the families going to be able to walk their children in safety down a narrow country lane with no pavement?.? l Continued from page 1 Mr Tanner said the existing vehicle parking facilities were also ?totally inadequate? for modern families, and any development would exacerbate this. Denise Van Looy, another resident, said in a letter to West Devon planning department: ?Growth in moderation can be a positive and necessary step. In Northlew, there has been a steady increase in new builds which no-one is complaining about, however, to lump a housing estate in the midst of this community, which will effectively increase the population by 25%, is lunacy.? An application for development at Kimberlands was originally lodged with West Devon last summer. An appeal was lodged against the council for non-determination of the application, but applicants Sunnybank Homes may withdraw this appeal should the new application be approved.
