PLANNERS have backed a 'gut feeling' to reject further devel opment of a landslip-hit hous ing estate at Lyme Regis. Dismissing advice from their own experts, district councillors decid ed that developing plot 13 at Haye Gardens could spell more bad luck for neighbours. Members of the development con trol west committee were reminded that since building began on the site two nearby homes had been damaged by land movement - one so badly the owner had been forced to leave. Protester Hazel Tingley, of St George's Hill, said her home was damaged after the development of plots 10 and 11. She said the area was 'dangerous ly unstable' and she feared further land movement should the council agree to a new chalet-style bunga low being built just one-metre from her property. But senior planning officer Andrew Jordan told the committee that builders Whitemarsh Developments had carried out a ground survey in consultation with the council's own geotechnical con sultants, the Brody Forbes Partnership. They concluded the latest scheme was acceptable and he recommend ed approval. Vice chairman Ken Meech said what concerned him was the fact that their experts had concluded that if the development of plot 13 was carried out properly it 'should not' give rise to instability of the site or surrounding area. He said the words 'should not' instead of 'will not' gave the devel opers an enormous get out. Coun Roger Stoodley said having seen the devastation caused to the nearby bungalow in Roman Road he was concerned that there would be similar problems when they started to excavate this site. "I am not confident this won't slip," he said. Development services manager John Greenslade said that if there was damage to neighbouring homes it would be a matter for private legal action by the parties involved. Coun Meech said those who were disadvantaged in such cases were often elderly people without the money needed to go into battle against the big battalions. These were people who did not have 'the clout' to take developers to court. Coun Tony Alford warned that they should rely on their profes sional report. Coun Ron Coatsworth said that land slippage in Lyme Regis was well documented and parts of the resort could be in the sea in 100 years time. "It does not say here that it won't slip just that it should not - that's very poor reason to approve it," he said. "We all have a gut feeling about this. Most of us are not happy." Mr Greenslade said that if the applicants appealed against refusal a planning inspector might feel that having gone against the advice of their experts the district coun cil's grounds for turning it down were 'vexatious' and costs could be awarded against them. But the committee refused the application by three votes to two on the grounds that land instability could lead to more slippage to the detriment of neighbours.