A SITE visit tomorrow (Friday) will give councillors the chance to examine more closely a proposed extension to the Gidleigh Park Hotel near Chagford which opponents say would be unsympathetic to the area and create additional traffic. Dartmoor National Park Authority?s development committee discussed the application to create new bedrooms and staff accommodation at the hotel earlier this month and agreed to officer recommendation to hold a site inspection. The well-established hotel is located at the end of a narrow lane to the west of Chagford but within Gidleigh Parish and is one of only 13 British restaurants rated with two or three stars in the Michelin Guide 2005. The application is for an extension to provide four new bedrooms and extend the dining room and kitchen area, plus additional staff accommodation of 14 rooms and extending the car parking area to the rear of the building. The applicants state the hotel employs 42 people and with the additional staff the total staff wages were likely to be in excess of £750,000 much of which would be spent in the local economy. The County Environment Director estimated the proposal would increase the daily flow of traffic associated with the hotel by 60% at the peak time of year. The director concluded that any increase in traffic along Holy Street Lane, was, ?at the least, undesirable? given that it primarily consists of a single carriageway with isolated opportunities to pass. The applicants responded to these concerns, stating they considered the impact of the additional traffic would be negligible. A strong objection to the plans was raised by Gidleigh Parish Meeting in the report to the committee. The comments on the plan state ?the extension would be unsympathetic to the existing structure in design, detail and scale? and would generate additional traffic putting pressure on country lanes. John Milton of Gidleigh Parish Meeting said that a survey of all residents of the parish was being conducted to gauge their views on the issue. The application will be discussed again at the next authority meeting.
