AN application to erect 12 floodlights at a West Devon village tennis club is likely to be given the thumbs down by Dartmoor planners at their meeting this week.

Yelverton Tennis Club has applied to erect the 8.3 metre high floodlighting columns on the three courts situated in the war memorial field in Meavy Lane. The club says the proposed lights are the minimum standard approved by the Lawn Tennis Association and would have an automatic cut-off clock system.

But residents in the area have objected to the application, claiming the floodlights would create light and noise pollution during the evening and would urbanise the rural setting of the tennis courts. They are also concerned about safety issues, saying the extra light might encourage drivers to park in the narrow lane or at the tennis court entrance, rather than using the car park.

Dartmoor National Park Authority planning officers are recommending the application be refused and report that the columns are too high and too numerous.

In his report to the committee, planning officer Jeremy Ebdon said: ?The proposed floodlighting will, at this edge of village location, have a detrimental impact on the rural character of this part of the national park and, in the absence of any overriding justification, is considered unacceptable.?

The planning committee will consider the application at its meeting in Bovey Tracey tomorrow (Friday).