A proposal for a new campsite at Dawlish Warren is to be opposed by the town council.

The applicant wants to turn agricultural land off Warren Road into a camping ground equipped with 26 pre-erected bell tents, along with a toilet/shower block, reception and a communal barn and picnic area.

Dawlish Town Council's planning committee debated the plan on Friday, April 23.

They also heard from two local residents, one of whom spoke in favour of the proposal, and the other who spoke against it.

The objector outlined several concerns, including loss of privacy for people living nearby, safety concerns relating to the busy road, an expected increase in noise and anti-social behaviour, and the loss of wildlife habitats.

He said Dawlish Warren has long been associated with the holiday industry, but that since the 1960s it ha been 'steamrollered away from its farmlands and open spaces'.

He said natural habitats have been destroyed and local residents have become 'prisoners' of the holiday industry.

The resident who spoke in favour of the campside said he welcomed ' a refreshing new take on camping that's almost going back to roots as opposed to the typical static caravan developments', that the development would use green energy, and that the local economy would benefit from it.

But the town councillors voted by a majority to recommend that Teignbridge District Council should refuse the application.

They objected for various reasons including overdevelopment, the likelihood of noise issues, potential drainage problems, concerns over access to the site from the main road, and loss of wildlife habitats.

They also agreed to ask Teignbridge District Council to put the application before its planning committee for debate, if the officer concerned is minded to approve it.