A PAIR of new gates and decking at a Dartmouth home – which have already been installed – have sparked off a traffic and planning row amid claims the development is 'ugly, intrusive and inappropriate'.

Dartmouth and Kingswear Society is objecting to the gates and decking which have been put in at Britannia House in College Way. And town councillors have said they are joining in with the objections.

A retrospective planning application has now been submitted to South Hams Council's planning department.

But town councillors are recommending it should be refused. And Dartmouth and Kingswear Society has added its opposition.

Both are concerned about the access onto the busy College Way.

Town council planning committee chairman David Gent said: 'It is in a conservation area and the decking would be out of character. The entrance is just at the point in College Way where people start accelerating as they go up the hill.'

Dartmouth and Kingswear Society, in a letter to South Hams Council, added: 'Unauthorised work has been carried out over a period of time to create a hard-standing parking space in what was a front garden with only a narrow opening for pedestrian access.

'It has involved the demolition of a substantial stone front wall to allow access by car across a pavement.

'Two levels of railings have been put in place above the space. The development is highly visible, ugly, intrusive and inappropriate.

'In effect, the householder has created a parking space by stealth, with dangerous access from a very narrow street. It has considerably and unacceptably changed the aspect of the street in what will be an extension to the conservation area.'

The final decision over the planning application will be made by South Hams Council's development management committee.

As will the decision on these further planning applications where town councillors have recommended approval.

They are: Listed building consent for internal alterations to create new en-suite shower room at 17 South Town; the removal of a condition which will allow 12 month holiday occupancy at 312 Norton Park; alterations to ventilation extractors at The Old Chantry, 11 Higher Street; minor amendments to planning consent to the rear and an enclosed porch at 110 Above Town; new rear dormer to north of existing rear dormer and new window in existing rear dormer at 38 Above Town; parapet roof extension to facilitate access to penthouse at Dartmouth House, Mayors Avenue; listed building consent for alterations with change of use from retail to residential unit at the ground floor of 11 Smith Street; reinstatement of existing garden retaining wall at 183 Victoria Road; new wind lobby to front of Sainsbury store in Nelson Road; removal of central dormer to be replaced by two dormers at 38 Above Town; extension to form shower and WC at 12 Lower Fairview Road; construction of a garage/workshop in the garden at the rear of 12 Britannia Avenue; improvement to the drive and parking with associated ancillary accommodation and landscaping at White Lodge, 2 Fairview Road; and the construction of a garage at 6 Lower Broad Park.