CAMPAIGNERS claim to have helped Exmoor National Park Authority to avert a potential planning upset after discovering a "serious mistake" which could have embarrassed both staff and members.

The pressure group Exmoor Uprising went straight to the top when they spotted a planning application from a relative of two national park authority members had been earmarked for approval by officers using delegated powers.

Usually, applications from people related to officers or members have to go before the park's full planning committee.

But a closer inspection by Exmoor Uprising of the plans for an affordable homeshowed the applicant's agent had ticked the "no" box on the form asking whether there was a link between the agent or applicant and the park authority.

The application clearly stated that the property would be built on land owned by a senior planning committee member, but because the "no" box had been ticked, planning officers decided to use their delegated powers to determine the application.

It was subsequently listed as "approved" among the delegated list of applications due to be given to planning committee members when they met last week.

The application's inclusion in the list was later described by the park authority as an "error" and officers said it had yet to be decided.

Molly Groves of Exmoor Uprising said a number of local families had been following the progress of the application as they too were keen to build their own affordable homes.

But she said they were horrified when the application was apparently approved by officers when they knew the applicant had two close relatives serving on the national park's planning committee.

She told the Free Press: "Because we were watching this particular application we were astounded to discover this had been approved.

"If we had not picked this up, what would the position be now?

"It would have brought Exmoor National Park Authority into serious disrepute."

Mrs Groves said she immediately contacted the authority's chief executive Nigel Stone and he acted swiftly to ensure correct procedures were then followed.

"We did discover it, we did stop it and the chief executive has informed us that there will be a full investigation into this matter," she said.

"Questions must be asked and taken note of and acted on.

"We hope that all members will learn from this and understand that the park must be seen to be whiter than white particularly on planning matters."

Dr Stone agreed and said he was pleased the authority was now able to work more closely with Exmoor Uprising.

"It is essential that we do get our planning processes right and that we are seen to do so," he said.

"I welcome the scrutiny being provided by Exmoor Uprising and their speed in advising me of a possible problem.

"This was extremely helpful in ensuring that we could take appropriate action in time.

"I am particularly pleased that we are now working more closely together with the Uprising group in this and other areas of our work for the good of Exmoor and Exmoor people."

A spokesman for the authority said the application had been listed as approved on last Tuesday's planning committee agenda "in error" and that no decision had in fact been made on the plans.

But she confirmed there had been potential for a breach of the authority's own rules due to incorrect information being provided by the agent who submitted the application.

"The error was first drawn to the attention of the national park authority's chief executive by Exmoor Uprising and, in line with normal procedure, the application should be considered by the planning committee at the February meeting and not be made through the delegation arrangements.

"On the planning application form there is a question that the agent/applicant is required to answer concerning whether the applicant or agent is related to any member of staff or member.

"This box was ticked 'no' by the agent - had it been correctly ticked 'yes' the registering staff would automatically highlight this as a committee item.

"In all likelihood this would have come to light in the scrutiny of applications prior to final approval. Nevertheless, we are extremely grateful to Mrs Groves and Exmoor Uprising for bringing this to our attention to ensure that a serious mistake didn't happen."