A MOVE to keep housing growth in the borough under local control was supported by West Devon councillors last week.

They rejected central government's directives for future housing provision — despite acknowledging the move was impractical at the moment as the present Local Plan is already 'set in stone'.

Cllr Dick Eberlie proposed the borough should call on the Government to move away from a 'predict and provide' policy on future housing provision to one of 'plan, monitor and manage'

Cllr Eberlie, leader of the council's Conservative group, said his motion was not politically motivated, but prompted by the concerns of Tavistock residents.

He said he did not want the imposition of a housing policy which would change the character of the town by creating purely a dormitory for Plymouth commuters.

'We all know we have very few brownfield sites in this borough — we have to build on agricultural land,' said Mr Eberlie.

'I have seen Tavistock develop since the early 1950s. It has grown sometimes slowly, sometimes fast. We want to continue this growth but we need to be able to control it ourselves.'

He said the council should recognise that public transport should be developed at the same time as housing provision and above all remember that West Devon is an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Cllr Eberlie said he felt the Government was beginning to take notice of appeals for local control.

'We are pushing on a slightly open door and we want to give it a shove, I suggest,' he said.

Cllr Ted Sherrell said he 'totally supported' the motion.

He said West Devon's houses would be filled with people of retirement age, as the borough did not have the infrastructure or jobs to support the working population.

'There is a real imbalance of age here — it may well be too late but at least let's say we've had enough,' said Cllr Sherrell.

Cllr Gordon Mills agreed, saying West Devon should not 'kow-tow' to government.

David Incoll, borough chief executive, confirmed it was too late to change the present Local Plan as it was now 'set in tablets of stone'.

He said a letter would be sent to deputy prime minister John Prescott from the borough's policy chairman, Peter Hill, informing the Government of West Devon's desire to move towards a policy of 'plan, monitor and manage'.

'Work has already started on the next structure plan review.

'The present one runs out in 2011 — the government has put out a consultation paper which suggests some move away from the predict and provide policy,' said Mr Incoll.