AN APPLICATION for permission to carry out work to create a playing field for Meavy Primary School comes before the Dartmoor National Park planning committee tomorrow (Friday).
Permission was granted in December 1996 for change of use from agricultural land to school recreational area for the 0.4 hectare area of enclosed meadow on the western side of the school. That permission has now lapsed.
The new application covers the same area, but includes details of the cut-and-fill needed to create a level area on the gently sloping land. A 5m section of hedge would need to be removed to allow access for the machinery necessary to carry out the work.
The application includes a 3m high chainlink fence to stop balls, the playing area to be turfed and surrounded by landscaping to soften its appearance.
Four letters of objection have been received by the DNPA which, although not objecting in principle, state the playing area should receive a grass surface to ensure that existing flooding problems are not exacerbated.
The objectors also comment that no structures or play equipment should be allowed, and no existing planting or hedgerows should be removed.
The DNPA planning officer says that while objectors' comments are noted, the work will create a much-needed facility for the adjacent school. He recommends approval on condition that the roadside hedge is re-instated after work is completed, the area has a grass surface, and a landscaping scheme is submitted.