A PICTURESQUE valley on the outskirts of Tavistock would be devastated if controversial plans to create a 4x4 vehicle training centre got the go-ahead, protesters this week claimed.

Residents who packed a public meeting in Grenofen last week vowed to fight the change of use application for land in the Tiddybrook Valley, submitted by landowner and former West Devon mayor Richard Phillips.

They said the four-wheel drive facility would ruin the valley, pose traffic dangers and leave the area exposed to subsequent ?ribbon development? between Bishopsmead and Grenofen. They also felt it was ?totally incompatible? with the proposed new cycle track to Horrabridge, which runs through the middle of the site.

But the agent for Mr Phillips said the scheme would not create a rally track.

News of the scheme horrified Roger and Karen Cole, who feared for the safety of their children. The land is feet outside the front door of their home.

Mr Cole said: ?We have three young children, one of whom is autistic. The reason we moved here was to give him more space ? anything that?s new is like a magnet to him and this would be right on our doorstep.?

Mr and Mrs Cole were also worried about oil and petrol pollution on the land and in the brook itself, plus noise pollution from low-gear, high revving vehicles.

?There?s no need for this development when there are other centres in the area,? said Mr Cole.

Jane Spencer, of Grenofen, feared change of use could be the first step in consequent ?creeping urbanisation? of the valley, currently designated an ?area of great landscape value? and highly visible from the western edge of the moor.

She said: ?It will devastate and scar this valley. We are astonished it?s even being considered. This valley is one of the main entrances to Tavistock, just voted top market town in the country ? do we really want this type of development here?

?The valley acts like a funnel for noise ? it won?t just affect people living at this end, it will affect Tavistock too.?

Sally Beaumont, who lives in Anderton Lane, said the area was a haven for wildlife which would be destroyed by a project that scarred the hillside, causing an eyesore.

?We realise things have to move on in the countryside, but with the proposed development of green fields north of Anderton Lane from Bishopsmead and the proposed cycle track, surely this is enough development?? she said.

David Russell, of Grenofen, claimed that access to the site, off the back road between Whitchurch and Horrabridge, was dangerous.

?There have been a number of accidents on this stretch of road in recent years.? Mr Russell hoped Mr Phillips would withdraw his application when he realised the strength of opposition to the proposal.

Peter Rowan, agent for Mr Phillips, said the intention was to provide instruction for safe, off-road driving.

?It?s not a rally track, they are not in competition. They would not be noisy because they would be crawling along in first or second gear and normally, bigger cars have quieter engines anyway.?

Mr Rowan said residents? perception of the scheme differed greatly from the reality of off-road driver training.

He said tracks used by 4x4 vehicles would be no different than tracks made by farm vehicles ? pollution danger would be no more than tractors driving across the field.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said residents have until tomorrow (Friday) to make their views known on the application.

The Highways Authority, Environment Agency, Dartmoor National Park Authority and West Devon?s environmental health department have all objected to the application ? there have also been more than 35 letters in opposition.