A DECISION to allow two new houses to be built on the east of Meavy village has dismayed local residents — they are worried it could set a precedent and lead to many more new houses being built in the neighbourhood.

A planning inspector from Bristol, Roger Priestley, visited the site in the village on January 3 and came down in favour of the development.

The application was made by the Walkhampton Trust for Maristow Estate, which represents Lord Roborough.

Thirty-one residents and Burrator Parish Council objected to the plan, first put forward in March last year, to build two semi-detached properties with an access on to Meavy Lane.

It was also opposed by Dartmoor Preservation Association and the Council for the Protection of Rural England. Dartmoor National Park Authority turned down the original application on the grounds that the proposed access to the site would be detrimental to the national park. It did not object to the building of the houses themselves, however.

Mr Priestley said that the impact of the new access was the main issue and it did not justify withholding planning permission.

Residents have raised a number of other objections. They are worried about the possibility that flooding will be made worse by further development in the village. This winter many of them have experienced serious floods.

They have also questioned whether the sewerage system has the capacity to cope with an increase in population.

Some argue that the lane, which is used by schoolchildren and horseriders, is too narrow to take more traffic.

They have written to Environment Minister Michael Meacher questioning whether the decision has been correctly taken.

'It's incredibly disappointing after a year of campaigning,' said Amanda Steers, spokesperson for the residents.

'This is a complete abandonment of national park policy in its fiftieth year. But it would cost at least £10,000 a day to take our case to the High Court, which we cannot afford.'

Tim Whiskard, land agent for the Maristow Estate, said the site would be sold on to a developer. 'It is an infill plot within the local plan area,' he said. 'It is not our intention to develop Meavy. The estate has owned land here for 200 years and it is not going to develop the place.'