PARKING problems in Drewsteignton could be a thing of the past if a plan to create a public car park in the village is approved.

The application by Drewsteignton Parish Council for a 26-space car park behind the Drewe Arms will be discussed tomorrow (Friday) by Dartmoor National Park Authority.

But despite two petitions over the past few years from residents calling for such a facility, 13 letters of objection to the proposal have been submitted.

Parish clerk Tony Milward said he was quite surprised by this negative response but planning applications of this nature usually received some opposition.

Concerns have been raised that it will diminish the beauty of the village, the main beneficiary would be the public house and noise, highway safety, drainage, light pollution and lack of need have all been stated as reasons to reject the application.

Mr Milward said he understood why the car park would receive opposition from residents living next to the site and others for environmental reasons but the need for a village car park was recognised in the Local Plan.

The area was popular with ramblers who left their cars in the village, accentuating the parking problem particularly in the summer, he said.

'The fact of the matter is over the last ten years local residents have been asking the parish council what it is going to do about the parking situation in Drewsteignton and at long last it has been able to acquire a piece of land for a car park,' added Mr Milward.

'As a parish council we have to think about access for emergency vehicles and safety issues — a small car park will relieve the problem to some extent.'

The application, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers, includes a footpath access from the car park to the churchyard and a vehicular access to the Drewe Arms staff car park. A raised central bank would be created and landscaped.