NORTH TAWTON could be in line for a long-awaited car park to ease traffic congestion in the town but it is likely to be at the expense of its only petrol station.

The joint owner of Bloggs Garage Bob Turland confirmed this week that the garage had been sold and an application has been submitted to West Devon Borough Council to put sheltered housing and a town car park on the site.

Mr Turland said he was looking to relocate his business, which includes car sales and repairs, within a five-mile radius of North Tawton but he would no longer be selling petrol as it was not profitable.

'We have been subsiding the petrol station for years — there are not enough customers to make any money from it,' he said.

The application for a car park to provide approximately 40 spaces and 14 sheltered housing units has been made by Westward Investment Management Services (UK) Ltd of Totnes, who have also applied for full planning permission to build 61 dwellings behind Exeter Road and the High Street and 31 homes on land adjacent to the rear of Goswyck Close.

Clerk of North Tawton Town Council Alison Baker said a campaign had been started for a town park some 55-years ago by the then North Tawton Parish Council.

'If a car park was needed all those years ago people can only imagine how desperate we are now,' she said. 'Several times a car park has been within our grasp and something has happened to stop it taking place.

'If the housing applications are approved and we have another 100 homes and potentially 200 more cars then this is going to have a significant impact on the traffic situation in North Tawton.'

Mrs Baker said the loss of a petrol station would be a disappointing outcome particularly as the nearest stations were several miles away at Okehampton or Bow.

West Devon Borough Council planning officer Chris Watson said the three applications for North Tawton had only just been received and they were presently being checked to see if any further information was required.