A SCHEME to place a mobile catering van in a quiet village location in Dartmoor National Park has sparked objections and a petition by residents protesting against the idea. The Maristow Estate has applied to Dartmoor National Park Authority for change of use consent to site a catering van in the car park of St Paul?s Church in Yelverton, which is owned by the estate. A mobile fish and chip van has been operating from the area and planning consent is required for its continued operation. But residents have petitioned against the idea ? they claim the trade would create noise and annoyance to neighbours, increase traffic and litter and change the character of a quiet area to that of a motorway service station. Protestors also fear unruly behaviour, a threat to personal safety during the evenings, late night disturbances and a general deterioration of the car park area. Buckland Monachorum Parish Council is backing residents. It ?strongly objects? to the application, stating the car park is well used and if permission for a catering van is granted, it will reduce the number of car parking spaces available, cause traffic congestion, noise, litter, a nuisance to the users of the church and church hall and will attract ?undesirable social activity?. But Joe Hess, Maristow Estate manager, said the estate believed many residents? fears were based on ?unfounded speculation?. He said: ?We have stated use of the site will not carry on later than 8pm on weekdays or 9pm on weekends. Basically, we are trying to support a local businessman and we feel he is being driven out of business by unfair and unfounded accusations. ?The fish and chip van owner has a list of signatures from people stating how pleased they are to see him there, there have been no disturbances and no litter because people take their fish and chips away with them.? Mr Hess said Maristow considered the car park, which was off the main road, close to toilets and near a popular area of Roborough Down, as an ideal place to site a mobile catering unit. ?The estate ? a responsible landlord ? recognises the concerns of local residents and that it?s close to the church. ?Subject to planning consent, any future use of the site would be licensed by Maristow ? it wouldn?t be an open invitation for every kebab van from Plymouth to set up a pitch there, it won?t be open-ended consent for every Tom, Dick and Harry, it?s not going to be like Goose Fair, that just isn?t going to happen.? Planning officer Peter White said the car park was well used by visitors and acted as an overflow car park for the shopping centre. There were a number of properties beyond a small wooded area to the south and west, whose only access was through the car park. He said: ?This is a predominantly quiet location and the proposal would not be sympathetic to the site and its surroundings, would detract from the amenity enjoyed by neighbours and would be detrimental to this part of the national park.? Dartmoor National Park?s planning committee is due to consider the application at its meeting tomorrow (Friday). No recommendation for approval or rejection has yet been made.