Kingswear parish councillors have added their voices in support of moves which could see the village's £250,000 signal box row finally settled by the Government.

The councillors claim they were left feeling 'totally disempowered' by the steam railway company's decision to build the office complex without planning permission.

Almost a fortnight ago South Hams Council's development management committee controversially gave the go ahead for a retrospective planning application for the offices – which have been built and occupied now for more than a year.

But at the last moment Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles ordered the permission should be put on hold while officials study the decision – with the option of calling the application in for the Government to make a decision.

A statement from Kingswear Parish Council declared this week that village councillors are 'pleased that that Secretary of State is considering whether the railway application should be referred to him for determination'.

They said: 'Kingswear residents need to know that every part of the planning procedure has been robustly evaluated by external means to ensure it has been dealt with correctly.

They also reinforced the village concerns that the new office is so large that it has blocked vital views across the Dart.

It said: 'This historic vista of the river Dart from Fore Street, in the heart of Kingswear, has always been an integral part of village life. The parish council appreciates the need for companies to profit and expand but the choice of location is unacceptable.

'This office block development is of an inappropriate size, in a particularly prominent position, out of scale and sympathy with existing railway buildings and does not enhance or preserve the character of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a listed building. There had never been a building or signal box in this position. The old demolished signal box was much further down the line towards the creek.

'The community and Kingswear Parish Council feel totally disempowered on this issue. Kingswear Parish had no input in the decision making and no consultation took place from either the steam railway or South Hams Council before the building was erected.

'Kingswear Parish Council objected to the retrospective application driven by the strong views of the residents. It has also requested a full environmental impact assessment be conducted.

'The interpretation of policies, intended to protect our heritage, which should have had relevance, has so far failed to understand the importance of the river Dart to those who live with her. conservation area, listed building status and AONB all proved weak and ineffective.

'The national issues concerning railways and legal interpretation appear to be a matter of opinion. Kingswear Parish Council feels that an independent body needs to evaluate the case objectivity.

'The Localism Act states 'local communities should have genuine opportunities to influence the future of the places where they live'.

'We need to have confidence that the planning process has been thorough; an independent determination would confirm this.'