OCCUPANTS of a residential park near Sampford Courtenay, angered over a planning decision to allow a bungalow to be built in a wood next to their properties, are taking the matter up with the Local Government Ombudsman.

Residents of The Beeches sought legal advice after West Devon Borough Council approved permission for the development despite two previous refusals, the last being six months ago.

They fear the bungalow, which will result in the removal of trees and loss of wildlife including many bird species, will set a precedent for future development and turn their rural environment into an urban setting.

One of the 58 residents of The Beeches who have joined the fight, John Love, said there was concern over how the borough council came to its decision.

He said it was against planning policy H2, referring to infill development in the countryside.

Mr Love said: 'We want the ombudsman to investigate how the borough council arrived at this decision and whether it was handled in a proper way.

'We do not have the £20,000 needed to mount a legal challenge, so this is the next best thing.'

Mr Love said consent was granted without an investigation as to what wildlife lived in the wood, not enough care was taken to ensure local residents knew what was planned and councillors ignored local wishes.

'The planning committee said it would help with the local housing shortage but this cannot be so as the applicant does not even live in West Devon,' he said.

'Even if he does sell this four bedroomed bungalow it is likely to be at the high end of the market.

'We understand from the planning department that there is enough land designated for building in Okehampton to cover needs.'

West Devon Borough Council's head of planning and development, Stephen Gill, said the opponents had been advised to go through the council's complaints procedure before going to the ombudsman, which would assist them with further information.

Mr Gill said: 'The ombudsman will only look at the administration of the application and the processes it went through and will not go into the merits of the application itself.

'The actual decision seems to be the primary concern of the residents of The Beeches and not the processes, but it is for the ombudsman to decide.'

The plan by Mr and Mrs E Daly from Crediton was recommended for refusal by planning officers, because it was deemed as sporadic development in the countryside.

Devon County Highways objected on the grounds that it would generate additional traffic movements close to a junction which had restricted visibility.

But support for the application was given by borough council ward member for Sampford Courtenay Noel Cartwright, who described the wood that surrounds The Beeches as 'an overgrown garden'

He said it was completely suitable for infill development between the residential park and the railway cottages on the other side.