RESIDENTS in a West Devon hamlet are battling against a planning application to build a rural studies centre for 30 people in the midst of their homes. Dartmoor National Park Authority?s planning committee is due to consider the application at Lovaton, near Meavy tomorrow (Friday). King Edward VI School in Hampshire has applied to convert the Grade II Listed Lovaton Cottage, along with a stone barn and chicken shed, into a rural studies centre, involving a bunkhouse with toilet and washing facilities, a lecture room, refectory and staff accommodation. But residents at Lovaton have objected to the plans. Debbie Measures said an extra 30 people would effectively more than double the size of Lovaton and be detrimental to residents in terms of noise and overlooking. Miss Measures was worried about the effect of extra traffic in the narrow lanes around Lovaton and said the junction from the hamlet with the main road was ?notoriously dangerous? . She was also concerned at the extra pressure on the water and sewage systems. She said: ?There is no mains water in Lovaton. If they are going to put in a new bore hole for cooking and washing facilities, this is bound to take away water supply from other residents and farm livestock ? we have difficulties in the summer months as it is.? Jim and Jenny Hill live just 15 feet from the building the school proposes to convert into a kitchen and canteen area. Mr Hill said he would be objecting ?most strongly? to the application. ?None of us are against people coming to Dartmoor and enjoying its facilities, but no matter how well behaved they are, there is bound to be an effect on the privacy of this hamlet. ?We are all on bore holes, wells and springs here, we are very much aware of the water situation, and the proposal to bring all these extra people, whom you would assume would all want showers after a day on Dartmoor, would be a big draw on the water all at once. ?Residents in the hamlet have actually run out of water on occasion as it is.? But Julian Thould, headmaster of King Edward VI School, said they had a commitment to working with local communities and intended to consult at all stages with Lovaton residents and Dartmoor National Park Authority. He said: ?We are mindful of the interests of residents and intend the cottage will be used sensitively and with due care given to the life of the local community. ?We have made a number of changes to our proposals to meet their concerns. In particular, we have transferred proposed sleeping accommodation to the site occupied by a large chicken shed, we have taken detailed expert advice about how to ensure suitable water provision and we have submitted plans for appropriate off-site parking to improve vehicle access.? A site visit has been recommended in dealing with the application ? the planning committee is due to discuss the proposal at its meeting in Bovey Tracey tomorrow.
