A PROJECT to create much-needed childcare facilities in a Dartmoor parish is being recommended for refusal by planners — despite much local support for the scheme.

The application to demolish an existing frame barn and construct a day care nursery at Greatastones Farm near Chagford is due to be considered by Dartmoor Park Authority's planning committee tomorrow (Friday).

The nursery would cater for children between the ages of six months and five years of age and also provide wrap around care and holiday clubs for children of school age.

The scheme has attracted two petitions and 33 letters of support from residents in Drewsteignton, Moretonhampstead, Chagford, Throwleigh and South Tawton, who say provision for childcare in the area is limited.

They also believe such farm diversification will be beneficial to Greatastones, will provide jobs and enable parents to return to employment.

The parish council is also in favour, stating there is a need for additional pre-school facilities in the Chagford area.

But planning officer Louise Smith, in her report to the committee, said highways officers opposed the scheme, claiming additional vehicles accessing the highway in an area of limited visibility would pose a danger — there was also a lack of suitable access for any other form of transport.

Although Ms Smith acknowledged the need for extra childcare in the area, she said the proposal did not satisfy several of the national park's core strategies.

It would not be accessible by foot, cycle or public transport, and there were concerns about the extent to which the farm would be diversified.

Ms Smith said: 'The proposed scheme is not considered to be well related to the existing agricultural business and given that it would accommodate up to 25 children, employing six people, it would seem likely to have potential to supplant the farm enterprise.

'There is also concern that traffic associated with the nursery will be likely to cause some inconvenience to the farm operation.'

The officer also said the proposed nursery building had a 'suburban form' with would have a negative impact on the rural farmyard and national park.

'This is a difficult application to determine, given the strength of local support which reveals a demand for this type of facility.

'However, in the light of strong policy objections it is difficult to recommend anything other than a refusal,' she said.

John Shears, agent for Greatastone Farm, said there was 'a real need' for childcare of this nature in the Chagford area.

He said: 'There are just not the places for professional people to leave their children. Chagford Pre-school is oversubscribed and they are in support.'

Mr Shears said the parish council had welcomed the proposed new access to the farm — he said at present, drivers back into the farm entrance to avoid oncoming traffic — the new access would provide a safe passing place and 'ample' space for two lorries to pass each other.

Mr Shears said he hoped planning committee members would use commonsense and realism in determining the application.

'We've been working with the park authority for eight months on this. There's no removal of mature trees, we worked with the top planning officers on the design.

'If they tried to diversify into a farm shop there would be more vehicle movements than for the nursery. Small farms here have to diversify — if this one doesn't it will die,' he said.