BRIDESTOWE Parish Council is to seek the advice of a county organisation over whether to place a fence between the village sporting green and Cranford Brook.
The council is concerned for children?s safety as the play area on the green is close to the brook.
But one resident, Terry Pritchard, wrote to the council expressing opposition to erecting a fence.
Councillors held a site meeting to assess the situation but were still undecided.
Council chairman John Leonard told last Wednesday?s meeting that it was a very difficult situation.
Mr Leonard said there were dangers in both leaving the area as it was or fencing it.
If there was a fence and children kicked a ball over it they might fall in the brook in trying to retrieve it.
But if the area was left as it was and a child fell in the river, there would be questions asked as to why it had not been fenced, he said.
The council decided to write to the Devon Association of Parish Councils for advice.