Pony charity’s visitor centre proposal to be altered

A PROPOSAL for a new visitor and education centre by a Dartmoor pony charity is going back to planners for minor alterations.

Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust wants to make some minor changes to their already-approved plan for a new education facility at Parke Estate, Bovey Tracey.

The new centre will replace their existing facilities at Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet, and Occombe Farm, Paignton.

In September last year, the charity gained planning permission to put up a timber-clad building to house ponies in pens and will have a tack room, hay store, classroom and office.

The centre will allow the charity to run NVQ courses for disabled people, children’s classes and courses for wardens.

A car park area will accommodate eight car spaces, cycle space and a minibus drop-off point.

The proposed changes relate to a reduction in excavation and the removal of proposed bund across the site.

The visitor centre aims to promote the Dartmoor pony breed, an integral part of the moor’s cultural heritage for 6,000 years.

The changes have been recommended for approval by planning officers at Teignbridge Council.

The decision rests with the authority’s development control committee which meets on Monday in Forde House, Newton Abbot.