HIGHAMPTON villagers, outraged that a young offenders' rehabilitation centre was given the go-ahead in the heart of its community three weeks ago, are seeking a judicial review to overturn the decision.

Opponents of the scheme to convert Burdon Grange Nursing Home, which was approved by West Devon Borough Council's planning committee by five votes to two, say they are prepared to use 'every last penny' to stop C-FAR — Centre for Adolescent Rehabilitation — setting up its base in the village.

At a public meeting in Highampton last week, attended by 80 residents, it was decided to mount a legal challenge against the borough council.

Chairman of the newly formed action group Sandra Howell said by the end of the one-hour meeting £5,000 had been donated to kick-start the 'fighting fund' and since then Plymouth-based solicitors Bond Pearce had agreed to take on the case.

'Ninety-nine per cent of this village is against a prison camp being developed in Highampton because that is what it is going to be — an open prison,' she said.

'Many people have come to this village to spend their autumn years in peace and quiet, solitude and security. This is being taken away from them and they will be living on their nerves.'

Mrs Howell said Highampton had been crime-free for five years and people were 'worried to death' by the prospect of living side by side with 24 persistent criminals.

'The fear of crime is very real — if we could be given a 100 per cent guarantee from C-FAR that there would be no increase in crime in our village then we would take it from there.'

The action group chairman said there was anger that councillors had not represented the views of residents and half of those who voted did not know the geography of the area.

Legal fees to take on the borough council could be as much as £30,000 and the action group is appealing for donations. It is also writing to the local government Ombudsman to complain about the way the application was handled.

David Richards, who lives close to Burdon Grange Nursing Home, said since the planning meeting the village had had some time to recover from the 'bitter blow' and now it was in 'fighting mode' again.

'We have got to take this further because we would always regret it if we did not fight this thing tooth and nail,' he said. 'We are prepared to go down to the last penny in our pockets — we cannot keep being steamrollered.'

Spokesman for C-FAR Richard White said the charity, which has been running ten-week 'life-changing' residential courses for young offenders at Okehampton Army Camp since June last year, had been entirely honest with the community of Highampton and had hoped residents would engage with them.

'We believe we have done everything appropriate by going through the full planning process,' he said. 'We have sought advice following the opponents' decision to seek a judicial review and are continuing to move forward with our plans.'

C-FAR's residential course is followed by nine-month mentor support and the year-long programme currently has a 61 per cent success rate. The pioneering work by the charity, which is more cost-effective than keeping a person in custody, has been backed by leaders in the prison and probation services.

Chief executive of West Devon Council David Incoll said any decision made by a local authority could be challenged within six weeks in a court and it could be overturned if it was found to be a decision that 'no reasonable authority could make'.

'Obviously, we do not see that there are any issues that would justify a court reaching that decision,' he said.