Bosses at Newton Abbot Racecourse have reacted angrily to a scheme that could allow the track to flood on a regular basis in order to protect the town from rising sea levels.

There are also concerns at County Hall that the region's economy will be at risk unless plans to allow the shoreline to retreat are revised.

Draft measures drawn up by the South Devon and Dorset Coastal Advisory Group include a 'managed realignment' along the Exe Estuary and allowing the Teign estuary to 'adapt'.

They are part of the proposed Shoreline Management Plan, a response to the problems associated with global warming.

Among the ideas are allowing additional flooding in the Powderham and Turf Locks area threatening both the mainline railway and the cyclepath.

Devon County Council is not happy however and its senior engineer, Edward Chorlton, expressed his concerns at a meeting of senior councillors in Exeter on Tuesday.

His report to the cabinet said: 'The... policy for this area [Powderham] will result in greater inundation to certain sections of the principal rail connection to a number of Devon towns, Plymouth and beyond to the far West.

'Associated with the railway line is a considerable level of investment into the cycleway.

'While the environmental gains of a [managed realignment] policy in this area are recognised and supported, it is unclear as to the proven advantage of using the railway embankment as the line of defence.

'An alternative defence line to the north east of the current proposal should be considered. The county council objects to this policy, in its current form, until the alternative has been investigated and assessed fully.'

Mr Chorlton also objected to plans for the Teign Estuary which allow the racecourse to act as a flood catchment area.

'It doesn't make a lot of sense to us that such an important economic unit is taken out several times a year,' he told his colleagues.

His sentiments were echoed by the member for Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, Cllr Stuart Barker.

He said failing to protect the 'habitat for people' would carry a heavy financial cost.

'If we carry on just allowing the sea to come in and take the land we will have to significantly change the support we offer,' he said.

Racecourse managing director Pat Masterson was equally unimpressed, not only with the Teign proposal but the lack of information.

He had only learned of the details after talking to the Advertiser and other news media.

'I am extremely concerned that there is a suggestion the racecourse could be allowed to flood and very frustrated that it is so difficult trying to find specific information which relates to the racecourse,' he said.

Having been told by the Advertiser on Wednesday that the deadline for comments on the draft proposals was today he added: 'I am going to have to do something very soon.'

The final version of the shoreline plan is expected to be published at the end of the year after the advisory group has considered comments from interested parties.