PLANS to form a new carpark and sports hall at South Tawton Primary School in South Zeal are likely to be subjected to a site inspection by Dartmoor planners.
The school has applied to Dartmoor National Park Authority for consent to remove four temporary classrooms and create a new car park, access and sports hall for use by the school and community.
But the DNPA planning committee is being recommended to hold an inspection of the site itself before making any decision on the application.
DNPA planning officers say that although improved community facilities are usually supported under planning policy guidelines and the school desperately needs more indoor room, there have been some strong objections from residents in South Zeal.
Eight letters have been received by the planning department, objecting to potential increases in traffic and noise.
Some residents feel a new community hall could reduce the use of the village hall and with new sporting facilities being proposed for Okehampton, there was no need to build another hall for indoor sporting use in South Zeal.
?There is a view that the school has outgrown the site and that a new school is required in preference to the proposed sports hall,? the planning report states.
?While the provision of such a facility close to the centre of the village has policy support, the strength of local objection and the concerns raised may suggest that a site visit is appropriate prior to a decision being made,? it states.
South Tawton School was built in 1875 and governors say it can no longer accommodate the number of pupils on the role.
The planning committee will consider the application at its meeting at Bovey Tracy tomorrow (Friday).