DESPITE fears over a flood risk to homes, overdevelopment and road safety issues, West Devon planners this Tuesday gave the green light for a controversial development on the former Tavistock Hockey Club pitch in Grenville Drive. The planning committee voted five votes to three to approve the scheme by Bishop Acklam Developments Ltd, deferred last month for a site visit. Some councillors remained unconvinced by reports into ground water and drainage and a highways survey they claimed did not show the real picture of the traffic congestion in that area. No objections were raised by county highways because an extra 33 homes using the Plymouth Road/Grenville Drive junction did not represent a high increase on the 200 households already using the junction, the committee was told. The site was within a low category flood zone and the Environmental Agency had raised no concerns. Planning officer Ed Persse said: 'With regards to the height of the water table the drainage engineer is happy that the site can be adequately drained.'. But ward member Alison Clish-Green said she had been inundated with complaints from residents. She said members had not had access to the engineer's report regarding flooding which stated that 'stringent conditions' be put in place. She said:'The report says that ground water seepage was present when the site was investigated and evidence of arsenic and nickel found. Bearing that report in mind I do not think we are in a position to make a decision today.' Cllr Mandy Govier said she could not approve a development with potential to flood and she was not 'completely reassured' the drainage system would work. Cllr Ken Williams said his concern was the loss of green space. 'I know how difficult the job is for planning officers and I have every sympathy and respect for them but sometimes what we feel is right in terms of planning policy is not right in terns of quality of life,' said Cllr Williams. 'Who is there to respect the amenity of residents who for many years have been living around this lovely green space?' Resident Max Traber told the committee Grenville Drive was at saturation point with cars parked on one or both sides of the road at the entrance to the proposed development during weekends and evenings. He said: 'There will be even more pressure on vehicles entering and leaving Grenville Drive and its junction with the A386.' Planning chairman Philip Sanders said much time had been spent looking at the highways issues — the professional view was there was not a problem at the junction. Natural England and the Environment Agency also had no objections. His views were reiterated by Cllr Bill Cann. Details of the foul and surface water drainage, results of the ground water site investigations, control systems and management would all have to be submitted and approved by the planning officers prior to the scheme starting, the committee was told. Bishop Acklam Developments Ltd will contribute £112,000 towards a replacement hockey pitch, 33% of affordable housing on the site and £750 per house for community facilities.
