Speaking at the DMC meeting on Wednesday, Councillor Claire Wright argued the inclusion of Straitgate in the plan makes it undeliverable. She implored members to consider deferring the matter.

Cllr Wright said that opposition from one land owner who controls access makes the site undeliverable, as does the lack of a viable processing place. AI’s proposals rely on it processing material at Blackhill Quarry in Woodbury – land that has not been approved for inclusion in the plan. Cllr Wright also argued AI’s estimated 1.2million tonnes of material could only be achieved by quarrying down to the water table – which would have a detrimental impact on the important environmental area, affect water supplies and also pose a flood risk. She added: “I also want to point out the level of opposition in Ottery. Over the last four years, there have been hundreds of objections.”

DCC officer Andy Hill said: “It is correct that the planning application has thrown up certain constraints. We feel there is an expectation that the site is deliverable in some form.”

On the amount of material, he said: “A definitive figure is not available but, if it’s less than expected, it is not fatal to the plan.”

Cllr Robert Vint suggested it is premature to go ahead with the plan in light of the points raised.

However, members agreed that a planning inspector will consider all of the points raised during the examination process and voted for the plan to be submitted to the next stage.

Monica Mortimer, of the Straitgate Action campaign group, said: “We will keep fighting. We are grateful to Claire for sticking up for the people of Ottery. The officers are only hearing one side of the story and they refuse to consider other points.”

Applications for the quarry at Straitgate Farm and a processing site at Blackhill are both yet to be decided by DCC.”