A petition has been launched to try and gauge opposition to the proposed lift shaft at The Boathouse, South Town.

Members of the community were out in the area at the beginning of the week, collecting signatures in opposition to the proposed lift, which Julia Hawkins says ‘would mar the lovely view of Dartmouth that walkers on the South West Coast path enjoy as they approach from Kingswear’.

Julia said: ‘A petition has been organised, but it is also urgent that readers look at the South Hams District Council website to see how Manor Garden looks now and what the effect would be in the building goes ahead.

‘They should then write to or email SHDC with their comments, with the deadline being this Thursday, March 2.’

Although members of the public have been submitting comments to SHDC over the past week, the website currently states ‘no objections received’ due to a backlog of getting letters onto the website.

BBH Chartered Architects (Dartmouth) Ltd have been instructed to prepare and submit the application on behalf of Mr and Mrs Royle.

In a design and access statement they say: ‘ The proposed development involves the construction of an external lift, contained within a slate clad lift shaft. The lift will run from the public Manor Gardens, down to the existing house, serving both the first and ground floors.

‘The lift shaft will be located just in front of the rear retaining wall, behind the existing house and below Manor Gardens. It will be accessed from Manor Gardens via a short bridge.

‘The purpose of the lift is to improve access to the house by eliminating the need to use a long set of external steps. However we recognise the impact that this development could have on the surrounding area and thought and care have been given to minimising this impact.’

Dartmouth Town Council had originally recommended approval for the proposal, but Cllr David Gent said on Wednesday morning that ‘at the time we only had half the papers’ and having ‘now seen the extent of the plans, as a committee we have unanimously decided to change our minds and recommend refusal on the basis of it being an overdevelopment of the site, obtrusive and unneighbourly.’He said SHDC were aware of their change of recommendation.

You can view the plans by visiting the SHDC planning website: www.southhams.gov.uk/searchlanding and searching for application number: 0096/17/HHO