THE FATE of a plan to build a nightclub on the edge of Tavistock will be known within five weeks, following an appeal hearing last Tuesday. The application by Canderbrook Properties for a 500-capacity nightclub plus gymnasium and squash courts at Wilminstone Quarry was refused by West Devon Borough Council's planning committee last December. Councillors said the proposal would cause an unacceptable loss of amenity to residents living along the approach road to the site and to the town centre, and that the provision of buses would not adequately overcome these concerns. Leading the four-hour informal appeal hearing in Tavistock Council Chamber, planning inspector Michael Hetherington heard from local resident Annie Forster, who was representing the views of the opponents, the headmaster of Kelly College Mark Steed, borough councillors Roy Connelly and Shaun Watchorn, planning officer Ed Persse and agent for the appellant Bob Page. The discussions were followed by a site visit. The hearing, which was open to the public, was also attended by around 20 local residents who had opposed the scheme. Mrs Forster said the inspector was extremely well informed: 'A lot of the points I had prepared, he brought up before anyone else, he was very thorough,' she said. 'Wilminstone is not an appropriate place for a nightclub. The access is very poor and they are talking about 500 people here.' There are fears that the majority of young people attending the facility would use Old Exeter Road to walk back to their homes, instead of taking the buses provided by the applicants. Cllr Shaun Watchorn was concerned that alcohol consumption combined with high spirits would lead to anti-social behaviour. Agent for Canderbrook Properties Bob Page said the sole reason for refusal was the movement of people to and from the club. 'This seemed to have been hijacked a little by the objectors who spoke about highway safety,' he said. Mr Page said it was brought up that Government advice stated nightclubs should be in town centres but the application for a nightclub at Kings in Tavistock town centre and the subsequent reaction from local residents was highlighted. 'In a town like Tavistock, which has a mix of residential and commercial properties, the setting of a nightclub in such a position is bound to give rise to numerous objections from residents,' he said. 'Therefore an out of town but accessible site should be looked at more favourably.' At last December's planning meeting, officers had recommended approval to the scheme with a number of conditions including sound proofing, restrictions on club opening times and measures to protect wildlife. The applicants had proposed a membership only club and 18-seater minibuses to deal with the number of clubbers leaving the site. Councillors recognised that with the Crown Centre closing, an alternative nightclub was required in the town.
