AN Okehampton resident has challenged councillors to come and see for themselves the impact of the development of the old Laburnham site on nearby homes in Exeter Road.

Ken Smith lives in a row of 13 houses in Exeter Road, set back from the main road.

He claimed residents were being blighted by the building of the properties which he described as 'monstrosities'.

Now councillors have agreed to come to a site meeting tomorrow (Friday) and hear residents' concerns.

Mr Smith claimed the houses being built are out of all proportion to the existing dwellings.

'We are already losing the morning sun and the ground floors are not yet complete,' said Mr Smith.

He said that the scale of the two-storey properties being built in a field behind the existing properties was totally out of keeping and not what residents had envisaged when planning permission was granted.

Mr Smith said: 'We have been very tolerant up to now of all the noise — and tolerant of the fact they would be developing in the field.'

He said he had not been opposed to development on the land per se, but had been horrified at the height of the homes that are now being constructed.

He said residents' concerns did not arise from objections to normal development on green field sites, although in this case, there were fears of subsequent flooding because of the well and springs in these fields, but because of the scale of the buildings.

Mr Smith said West Devon Borough Council's planning department told him the revised plans, which permitted the height of the houses, were notified to him in a letter sent in August 2002.

But Mr Smith claimed he never received that letter and neither, as far as he can ascertain, did any of the other residents.

Mr Smith added: 'Our argument is not really with the developers, they are only doing what they have been allowed to do, Maybe I am naive but I thought the council was supposed to represent the people who live here.'

A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council planning department insisted letters were sent out to residents on August 14, 2002, notifying them of the revised scheme.

Cllr Joanna Harrison, West Devon ward member for Okehampton East, said she had been contacted by other residents in the area and was aware of a great deal of 'angst' amongst householders regarding the new homes at Laburnham.

She said she and other local councillors would be meeting with residents and would be taking their concerns very seriously.

At a meeting of Okehampton Town Council's policy and resources committee last Monday (February 16), councillors concurred with Mr Smith's concerns.

Cllr Jayne Hill said the application, when it was discussed by the borough's planning committee two years ago, had been a 'very difficult planning matter'.

At the time Okehampton Town Council had raised concerns about a lack of amenity space, and sewage and water dispersal provision.

A total of 91 homes are being built on the old Laburnham site by developers Persimmon Homes of Exeter.

A previous application for housing on the site was refused three years ago for a number of reasons, including that 'the proposed development would result in an unreasonable degree of overlooking and domination of neighbouring existing properties'.