AN APPLICATION for land to be used to store 30 caravans at Higher Longford Caravan and Camping Park at Moorshop has been refused by planners. Dartmoor National Park Authority turned down the application because 'the proposed development would by reason of its size and location be detrimental to the character and appearance of this part of the Dartmoor National Park'. The park owners had applied on previous occasions for the storage of caravans so that owners who stayed on the site on numerous occasions would not have to take caravans away and return them each time, but had been refused permission. The new application, for a field adjacent to Longford Quarry and adjacent to an existing caravan storage area, was accompanied by photographs taken from surrounding vantage points in winter when the leaves were off the trees so an assessment could be made as to how visible the site would be at that time of year. Planning officers noted that it was clear from all the planting that had taken place and the way in which the caravan park was run, the owners had 'sought to address the wider impact on the local environment'. Customers would not be permitted to access the storage area, but would contact the park before their arrival so their caravans could be taken to the camping pitch and taken back on completion of their stay. But Plasterdown Grouped Parish Council objected to the application, stating that the site was 'clearly visible from Whitchurch Down and Caseytown Cross', and saying the photos were 'misleading'. 'The site is already overdeveloped. 'It would be detrimental to the appearance of the National Park onto a very fast road where there have been accidents and we should not encourage any more traffic,' the council's objection read. There were two other letters of objection, with concerns about it being 'out of character and inappropriate in terms of the visual impact' and concern regarding 'noisy activity'.
