SANDFORD parish councillors are not happy with a major planning application submitted to Mid Devon District Council.

The application seeks to build 13 open market eco-houses and six affordable eco-houses, plus additional car parking for those using the parish hall, a new access and estate road.

The application includes the closure of the existing vehicle entrance to the parish hall car park, the provision of a children's play area for the hall, highways improvement to Fanny's Lane and the provision of a revised footpath link to Snows and Meadowside Road.

At their meeting councillors resolved that they would object to the application on the following grounds:

• The design and siting of the marketing housing was not appropriate to Sandford's conservation area.

• Concern over the impact on the conservation area and the listed building adjacent to the site (Park House).

• Design of the urban road layout was inappropriate for the conservation area.

• Some market housing was outside the building line.

• Concern over the siting of the market housing close to the parish hall.

• Traffic problems along Fanny's Lane and on the junction with Church Street.

• Preference would be given by the parish council to a small rather than a large development.

The council had voted to approve the original application.

It was agreed that the council should pursue other sites for affordable housing in the parish.

It was also agreed to ask Mid Devon District Council whether the site of the garages at Crofts might be a suitable site. It was noted that use of the garages had dropped following the District Council's increase of the rents.