Erica Williams and Brian Major

After several appeals and numerous re-designs, we have at last overturned the planning officers' recommendation for refusal for a community shop to be housed in the village hall!

On a 13-4 vote, with two abstentions, Ilsington Parish Council was granted permission by Dartmoor National Park Authority Development Management Committee to build an extension for the shop and an additional room at the village hall, Old Town Hill.

Planning officer Louise Smith said it was a difficult application for officers especially with the community gain a shop would bring.  But it was also very difficult to support the design as well as the access to the shop for the disabled.

Cllr Maurice Retallick, who is a member of the committee, but spoke as chairman of Ilsington Parish Council, strongly supported the application.

“As well as the shop we have lost the Post Office recently, which was hastily accommodated in the village hall. There is strong support in the village to promote the community shop. I would urge you to consider this very carefully because of the community issues,” he said.

Erica Williams, secretary of the village hall committee, said when they heard the shop was closing, the community got together to try to save it, but that it was not financially viable. She said consultations were held, the village hall committee was approached and plans for an extension to house the shop were drawn up by Brian Major.

But the lack of disabled access and having to ring a bell or use an intercom to summon assistance, did not fit,” said deputy chairman Helen Jenny. “It sounds more like a leper colony,” she said.

Planning director Chris France said the previous shop did not have disabled access, and authority lawyer Christopher Walledge said the regulations did not mean every proposal had to have disabled access.

“It says you must take account of the need of people with disabilities. You must decide whether it has a community benefit,” he said.

James McInness said there was an overwhelming community need and he successfully proposed approval.

Our first hurdle has been successfully jumped!

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