THE people most directly affected by South West Water's controversial plans to develop the Burrator Reservoir area have their first chance tonight (Thursday) to say what they think about it.

Burrator Parish Council has called a parish meeting at Meavy Hall, but the council is worried that with the level of feeling about the issue the small hall will be over-run — the authority has therefore specified that registered electors in the parish will be given priority. Other members of the public will be allowed in if there is enough room.

Parish council chairman Michael Parle said: 'When South West Water put a proposal in four years ago there was considerable local opposition and at the time there was a promise by the council that, should they put another proposal in, the council would give full opportunity for people living in the area to make their views known.

'We have a duty to represent the electors and we recognise there are a lot of people within the electorate who would wish to express a view. We are keen to hear the views of the people of Burrator.'

South West Water has put in an application to Dartmoor National Park Authority to convert the historic Burrator Lodge into a café. It also wants to house a ranger and an environmental interpretation room in the building.

The plans include building an entrance porch, external staircase and a free-standing toilet block. A 100-year-old iron store would be demolished and replaced by a 52-space car park.

Many people fear the application is the first step in resurrecting a plan to commercialise the area, revered by many as a natural oasis of calm. It was defeated by massive opposition in 1996. SWW categorically denies there is a plan to bring about full-scale commercialisation of Burrator either now or in the future.

The meeting takes place tonight, Thursday December 9, at Meavy Village Hall starting at 7pm. The parish planning committee will be meeting afterwards, at 9.15pm, to vote on the application.

Parish clerk Mike Spry has urged people to write directly to the organisations involved or to the parish council to express their opinions.

Graham Ledger, chairman of the Friends of Burrator group, is urging people to attend the parish meeting and write to DNPA at Bovey Tracey.