THE POSITION of a cycle ramp right next to Sourton churchyard is likely to be changed after opponents claimed it was taking away the privacy of the church and its services.

Sourton Parochial Church Council feels it may have won the day but it is waiting for written confirmation from the Dartmoor National Park Authority that the ramp will be moved in the spring.

George Heathman from the PCC said the parish believed the proposed Sustrans cycle track would follow the old path used by the railway workers which was completely away from the church site.

But he said the contractors started bulldozing the hedge next to the burial ground two weeks ago and built up a 'huge ramp, higher than the walls'.

'In doing so they took away all the privacy of the church and services,' he said. 'This became evident recently during the funeral of one of our parishioners.'

After a meeting on site with a Sustrans representative and discussions with the Dartmoor National Park Authority, the PCC has been told that work will stop and the ramp will be moved.

Chief planning officer for DNP, Graham Wall, said the preferred site had always been the path used by the railway workers but this had changed due to what appeared to be archaeological remains on the site.

No objections had been received to siting the ramp next to the churchyard so planning permission was granted and the work began.

Mr Wall said both Sourton Parish Council and the PCC were notified of the planning application but due to the complexities of planning they may not have understood completely where the track was being sited.

He said the other site was still being investigated because, although a village resident remembered a building being put up there in the early part of the century, this did not mean there was not something there from an earlier date.

'We have now established that the ramp could go on the other side of these remains,' he said. 'But we are not going to do any further work on it until the New Year when it can be shifted and put in the agreed position.'

Mr Wall said in terms of the cost of the whole scheme in that area, which included extensive improvements to the Lake viaduct, the amount to move the ramp was 'quite small'.