A MULTI-million pound housing development and public car park scheme for North Tawton was given the green light by West Devon planners this week, despite fears the project will create traffic havoc in the town.

The application by Wims UK Ltd will mean an extra 73 houses will be built on land to the rear of High Street and Exeter Street.

A separate, linked application, to build a 35-space car park on the site of Blogg's Garage was also approved, and will include sheltered housing and warden accommodation.

Jack Gregory, director of Gregory's Transport, said a previous application for 30 to 34 houses on the site was acceptable, but the density of housing in the new scheme would aggravate traffic congestion and cause 'absolute gridlock' in the town centre.

Mr Gregory said: 'You know, I know, everybody knows it probably means an additional 100 cars. This is going to aggravate a situation that is practically impossible now.

'Every car that approaches North Tawton today has to go on the wrong side of the road on the brow of a hill, and we are all waiting for accidents to happen. This development is going to cause absolute havoc. North Tawton doesn't deserve this.'

Cllr Nick Morgan, ward member for North Tawton, said the housing scheme and car park were 'the most important developments in the town in recent history'.

But Cllr Morgan said traffic congestion in North Tawton would still be a problem, despite the creation of the new car park.

He said: 'We have to overcome this somehow and this is something the borough will have to work on, in conjunction with the town council. We have to have some sort of traffic management in the square.'

He also felt it would have been preferable to have built houses on the south side of the town, as a southern road was 'desperately needed' to alleviate traffic congestion.

Cllr Roger Mathew, chairman of the planning committee, said West Devon was 'stuck' with the density of housing as the borough had to work within central government guidelines.

He also said as the county highways officer was happy with the plans, there were no reasons to reject the application on those grounds.

Scheme architect Sid Parkes said negotiations for the development had been continuing for a year and he felt most problems had now been overcome.

He said there was 'no question' the Blogg's Garage site was the best place for a car park and that the roundabout at the entrance to the town would improve access into North Tawton.

Planning officer John Milverton told the committee that South West Water had confirmed that the building of 73 new houses would not 'greatly exacerbate' flooding problems in North Tawton.

Mr Milverton said a new 'sustainable urban drainage scheme', approved by the Environment Agency and the first of its kind in West Devon, would be created at the development.

A management company set up by the borough would maintain the scheme, with financial contributions from the new home owners.

Mr Milverton said although there was not sufficient sewerage capacity for the extra dwellings, a condition of planning consent would be a £120,000 contribution by the developer, to be used to upgrade the sewerage plant.

A contribution of £37,250 had also been requested by the county education officer.

Permitted development rights would be withdrawn from the new houses, including conversion of garages.

It was also agreed the public car park must be completed before any dwellings are occupied.

Work is likely to start on the scheme this autumn.