SERIOUS concerns have been expressed by district planners over proposals to lease out a chunk of Lyme Bay as a mussel farm.

SERIOUS concerns have been expressed by district planners over proposals to lease out a chunk of Lyme Bay as a mussel farm.

The final decision will be made by the Crown Estate who own half of the UK's coastal foreshore - but the district council is a major consultee.

And councillors on Tuesday, backed by environment portfolio holder Cllr Graham Brown, refused to recommend approval until they have more information.

Exmouth shell-fisherman Miles Blood-Smyth told councillors: "This is a large intensive industrial mono- culture over nine square miles.

"It may be just one per cent of Lyme Bay but it is the one per cent everybody wants.

"(East Devon) will have nothing to gain and everything to lose.