OPPONENTS of a scheme to turn a youth hostel at Crowcombe Heathfield into a family centre for vulnerable young families and pregnant mothers were yesterday (Thursday) accused of using "unethical tactics" to force a public debate on the plans. The application by Stockland Bristol-based Restcare Services for Denzel House had been due to be decided by planning officers at West Somerset District Council using delegated powers. But acting planning manager Mike Swinton decided to bring it before yesterday's meeting of the planning committee "to address verbal allegations made over councillor and officer conduct". The identity of those making the allegations or those on the receiving end of them was not made public and no details were given on their content. But Garry Berry, of planning agents Berry Associates, told the committee that officers clearly felt duty bound to bring it before councillors. However, he claimed that the allegations had only been made and the unethical tactics adopted because all legitimate attempts to have the application decided at committee level had failed. Mr Berry said local opposition, however vociferous, was no reason for refusal and there were no material planning considerations to warrant the application being turned down. He told councillors: "I ask you to vote in support of this very worthy family centre." However, the committee agreed to defer the bid for a site visit to further assess the character and nature of the area surrounding Denzel House, which lies in a rural location. The company behind the proposal already runs two care homes for the elderly in Stockland Bristol and in Burnham-on-Sea and last December won planning approval to convert a guest house in Taunton into a similar residential home for vulnerable parents. Its plans for the Crowcombe Heathfield property would focus on the creation of 11 bedrooms for parents and prospective parents, with one staff bedroom, representing a 42 per cent reduction in overnight stays at the current 47-bed capacity hostel. The development would also lead to around 25 part-time staff, equivalent to five full time posts, an increase on the current use, which includes a field studies unit. The aim of the centre would be to help the residents to improve the life skills needed for day- to-day living. Planning officer Martin Lee said neither Social Services nor the Care Standards Commission Inspectorate had any concerns over the proposed family centre and there were also no adverse comments from the local police liaison officer. Similarly, highways chiefs had predicted a reduction in the number vehicles going to and from the site. But the plans attracted a 33-signature petition, a total of 16 letters of objection and a recommendation of refusal from Crowcombe Parish Council. In addition, a total of ten people registered their opposition by addressing yesterday's meeting, which was chaired by vice-chairman Cllr Tony Knight after the chairman and Crowcombe ward member Cllr Viv Brewer said he had received letters from the applicants and letters and calls from local residents. David Freemantle, who has lived in Crowcombe Heathfield for the past 12 years, admitted that he was a vigourous campaigner against the plans for Denzel House. Mr Freemantle said the application to put 11 dysfunctional families into a quiet backwater was flawed, citing the lack of amenities and insisting that it would go against planning policy because it would affect the local community in a way the youth hostel did not. And he claimed the "very real concerns" of local residents had been given scant mention in the report prepared for the committee by officers. Mr Freemantle said the only benefit from the proposed scheme was jobs, but many of those would probably be filled by people "well away from the local area". Geoff Thomas, another resident, said Crowcombe Heathfield was not a safe, therapeutic environment for the type of commercial enterprise proposed. He claimed the officers' report was incomplete, that certain statistics presented by the applicant had not been checked out and called for full consultation on a range of issues from fire safety to environmental health. "Give us local residents more time to make in- depth enquiries," Mr Thomas asked the committee. Heather Wilson, who works for the existing field studies unit, said she did not live locally so her objections were not "nimbyism". She insisted that the residents earmarked for the new centre would hate its isolation and that potential conflict between the families could spill out into the local area. "I can't see this working," said Ms Wilson. "It is a good idea but Denzel House is not the right location." Former youth hostel warden Alice Beak, who with her husband ran Crowcombe Heathfield for 20 years, also raised the issue of isolation and the distance to the nearest shops and pubs. Meanwhile, next door neighbour Annie Liebert highlighted concerns over potential flooding of her garden with the increased use of the building and said she was frightened for herself, her family, her neighbours and nearby properties. Her husband Tony said the previous day they had visited a similar centre in Bristol and now felt all their fears were justified. "We would prefer the hostel to return to a private residential house rather than turn it into a leaky prison camp a stone's throw away from the railway line." Resident Beryl Ayres told councillors she was worried that the anger of people using the centre could be directed at local residents. "Two thirds of the 64 people living in Crowcombe Heathfield are retired and we are feeling very vulnerable." Local landowner Richard Cooper, who owns 150 acres of adjoining woodland and heathfield, said he was concerned for the wildlife, that "urban residents" would run into problems in the countryside - an environment they would be unfamiliar with - and the risk of fire as there were bound to be smokers amongst the residents. Other issues raised by hostel neighbours Alan Corwood and Rosemary Freemantle centred on the incompatibility of the location and the need to protect Crowcombe Heathfield's only amenity - peace and quiet. But clinical psychologist Dr Freda Gardner, who will be a director of the proposed centre, stressed the huge benefits that struggling families could receive from using the centre for up to three month stays. She said many had never been shown parenting skills and those coming to Crowcombe Heathfield would be motivated and governed by firm rules and regulations. Councillors were reminded by former planning committee chairman Cllr Bryan Leaker that social concerns were outside their remit and that the application should be determined on planning grounds only. But Cllr Angela Palmer maintained that not all councillors were aware of the location and a site visit would allow them to "have a really good look at it". Cllr Roger Webber said he was disappointed by some of the language used by the objectors. He said West Somerset should be looking at what it could contribute to society and the residents were likely to be young people who needed support.