SUBSTANTIAL plans to build family homes, a community lounge and cafe building and a children’s nursery at Hatchmoor in Great Torrington have met with controversy over the access route.

Developers are proposing vehicles travel to and from the planned new development next to Hatchmoor Nursing Home via Holt Meadow which is currently a quiet cul-de-sac.

In letters to Torridge District Council’s planning department, opponents say whilst they welcome new homes and facilities the access road is unsuitable for constant traffic, would ruin the amenity of residents and cause a safety hazard.

Planning documents say that the vision for this scheme is to deliver family-sized housing that responds directly to a local shortage of rental and open market family homes in the Great Torrington area — a shortage that also affects the ability of Hatchmoor Nursing Home to recruit and retain care staff locally.

The development would provide nine three- to four-bed townhouses and a children’s nursery facility addressing a large demand for early childcare in the town.

“Great Torrington has been identified as a critical area for expanded childcare provision to accommodate the government’s new entitlements.” said planning agents.

“Hatchmoor’s nursery will not only support working families but also align with local needs by providing an all-year-round, extended-hours option that enhances parents’ access to employment and economic participation,” they said.

The community lounge will be available to the general public when not in use by residents.

One local resident said: “The proposal is to use the existing estate road, which serves the development of Holt Meadow. It is clearly designed as a cul-de-sac and effectively capped at the far end.

“We bought our property on Holt Meadow as we felt it was designed as a small development with minimum vehicle usage….therefore creating a safe environment for pedestrians.

“This road has been laid using bricks and is in a finished state and as such, we feel that it would simply not sustain the impact of several heavy vehicles per day during construction of the planned development.”

Another said the road use would “fundamentally change the character of this street. Holt Meadow is currently a quiet, peaceful cul-de-sac with almost all traffic being for residents’ access.”

Great Torrington Town Council has requested that an alternative way in and out be identified ie the existing nursing home access road but added that it was in favour of the new development particularly the provision of a children’s nursery.

Torridge has been at the bottom of the list of districts in the country for the number of childcare places available in recent years.

Parents in the area said they were constantly told by childcare providers there was no space and it was not worth joining the waiting list.

It has been an issue raised by Torridge District Council on a number of occasions. The council has been working with local colleges to try and get students interested in becoming childminders.

Torridge District Council will determine the application at a future date. Members of the public have until July 27 to submit views.