RESIDENTS have spoken out against plans to build eleven industrial workshops on land near Tipton St John.

Blueprints for Stonehill Quarry in Lancercombe reveal the units would be used for small scale manufacturing, light fabrication, assembly and general storage associated with local business outlets.

The land owner wants to erect workshops, create a new yard area, parking space, turning provision and site drainage.

Tipton Residents Association has voiced traffic fears for the road linking Sidmouth’s Bowd to Ottery.

“It is well known there are problems along this road and we feel that the extra vehicles will exacerbate the problem,” said a letter of objection to Ottery town council.

Residents also feel the development will be “very obtrusive” to householders in Otter Close and have further drainage, smell and noise fears.

“We have a history of flooding in Tipton and feel that any further hard landscaping will cause even more problems,” read the letter.

Applicant, a Mr Vanstone, told town councillors last month work had been done to address all the issues, adding the proposed units would be screened and not visible from Otter Close.

Civic leaders didn’t give the application their blessing when they discussed the blueprints last month.

Ottery town council’s planning committee members said they support local employment and small businesses, but proposals feature too many units which could create excess noise. They also held water run-off and traffic concerns.

East Devon District Council will consider the committee’s view when it decides the fate of the plans later this year.