WEST Devon planners have rejected proposals for a holiday complex on a former farm at Wilminstone near Tavistock. Permission had been sought to convert one barn on Higher Wilminstone Farm into four three-bedroomed holiday units, a gym, and fitness and beauty areas. A second barn was to have been converted into six stables, along with a tack room, hay room, and games room. Mark Bassett, of Higher Wilminstone Farm, also applied for permission to convert a milking parlour and dairy into a further, two-bedroomed holiday let. The proposals were refused by West Devon Borough Council's planning committee on the grounds that their current construction and materials — single-block walls and sheeting — made them unsuitable for the proposed use. The application was supported by ward member for Tavistock North Shaun Watchorn. He said it was possible to convert the dairy building without significant extension, alteration or reconstruction, and argued he did not believe it would have an adverse effect on neighbouring properties. 'We should be doing anything possible to promote tourism,' he said, adding that Tavistock was sadly lacking in tourist accommodation. But Cllr John Hockridge said of the dairy block: 'This is a breeze-block building. It's not an old farm. It may be a redundant building but it's not one we would normally consider for barn conversion.' Ward member for Tavistock South Mandy Govier asked whether, in the case of the barns, it was even possible to convert a metal-clad building. It was argued that the barns were of the type traditionally viewed as temporary structures. Cllr Eaon Wager suggested that as the only empty modern farm buildings in the area, the structures could be better used by letting to local farmers. Objections to the development were also raised by the Highways Agency and by local residents on the grounds of the increased traffic it would bring to the area. Neighbour Mrs Jay Hooper described the proposals for the farm as 'stealth development'. An application for a new access road to the site had been previously refused by the committee. Plans for a swimming pool, refused by the borough council, are currently the subject of an appeal.
