AN innovative scheme to provide a community market garden in Chagford is due to go before Dartmoor National Park's planning committee tomorrow (Friday).

Chagford Community Agriculture's 'Chagfood' project has applied for permission to erect three polytunnels and two sheds on land at Parford, near Easton Cross.

The project hopes to involve residents of all ages and capabilities in the production of vegetables, and last year secured funding from the Big Lottery's Local Food Fund for the proposed development.

The project says the growing area would be operated organically, in as environmentally-friendly a manner as possible. Energy use would be kept to a minimum, rainwater would be harvested and the project is investigating the use of working horses, instead of tractors.

The Long Field site is currently used as an agricultural holding — the polytunnels and sheds would be erected in an area currently used for stockpiling manure.

The planning committee will be told that there are no major objections to the development by statutory consultees, although the application has sparked many letters — 48 in support, and ten objecting to the scheme.

In a report to the committee, planning officer Chris France said: 'The letters of objection are concerned about the inadequate site access and increased traffic along the busy, poor quality road leading to the site.

'They also cite noise nuisance and security issues and state the proposed polytunnels will be an eyesore and detrimental to local landscape character.'

Mr France will tell the committee the project proposed restricting traffic to two cars, two-and-a-half days a week — users will be strongly encouraged to walk or cycle to the site or use the bus service which has a stop fairly close by.

Only two people will be employed by the project and they would be the only individuals regularly travelling to the site.

Regarding visual impact, Mr France said: 'The site is visible from two properties to the north and west, but the new structures will be largely screened from these by the existing hedgerow and proposed additional planting.

'The proposed sheds are to be clad to match the existing barn. The polytunnels will only be visible from the two closest dwellings, one of which is a holiday home and only occupied for a portion of the year.

In his report, Mr France concluded that the main concerns of the objectors had been 'fully considered'.

'Given there is no objection from the highway authority and that it is considered that landscaping could provide sufficient mitigation to protect the visual amenity of the area, it is considered appropriate to support the proposal.'