A NEW £1.2million science block at Cullompton Community College has sparked controversy.

A complaint has been lodged with the local government ombudsman, alleging maladminis-tration in the planning application for the new building now under construction.

Cullompton town councillor Michael Thompson who lives nextdoor to the college in Exeter Road has filed the complaint.

The plans were considered by the development control committee of Devon County Council on September 4, following a site visit a week earlier.

Cllr Thompson and some of his neighbours registered their objections throughout the planning process at town, district and county level. Cllr Thompson is the chairman of the planning committee on Cullompton Town Council and declared an interest each time the application came up for debate.

He said: "I am not against the college having new facilities and I make that point quite strongly.

"I think there are some anom-olies in the way the application has been handled by Devon County Council, and there was a lack of consideration of the concerns of the town and district councils."

The complaint received by the ombudsman alleges that elements of the development have not been carried out in strict accordance with the approved plans. A spokeswoman for Dev-on County Council said: "The householder is saying there is inefficient management of surface water run off, which he claims could increase the risk of flooding on his property.

"He also feels the swale, a ditch which is draining off the existing stream and is used for storage of surface water run off, has not been carried out in strict accordance with the approved plans.

"And the same person claims the windows in the Eastern side of the block overlook his property and cause loss of privacy."

Cullompton Community Coll-ege principal Cara Dunne did not wish to comment.

But college bursar John Blouet-Smith said: "The science block will have six labs and having been in others schools recently, I must say I think we have got a very generous space.

"It is an excellent facility with the most modern equipment."

The new 38-window science block costs in the region of £1.2 million. Building work began last autumn and could be completed next month.

There is no deadline for the ombudsman's decision and the building cannot be pulled down regardless of the final decision - but compensation could be awarded.