WEST Somerset district councillors sided with public opinion and approved an application from racehorse trainer Philip Hobbs to build a tennis court for his staff.

But in doing so, members of the council's planning committee flew in the face of local and national planning policies, advice from their officers and previous planning decisions.

They had been advised to refuse the application for a tennis court to be built in a field close to Dunraven, a house used by Mr Hobbs' stable staff in Bilbrook.

Officers said the site was in open countryside and development would be contrary to both local and national planning policies.

They warned that granting planning permission would set a precedent for similar future developments and said the use of the tennis court could not be restricted to stable staff only.

Councillors were told two similar applications had only recently be refused planning permission by officers using delegated powers and a similar application from Mr Hobbs was refused at the end of last year.

Officers stated: "Any other decision apart from refusal would be perverse.

"Members also need to bear in mind that the integrity of the planning system is based on consistency of decision making in the public interest - not for individual persons or interests - as recently highlighted by the best value inspection."

An officer's report to last Thursday's committee meeting continued: "It is acknowledged that this application is strongly supported by the parish council and there are highway safety considerations, nevertheless, it is not considered that the social benefits of the proposal outweigh the policy objections to the above.

"Refusal of the application is strongly recommended on policy grounds, consistency of decision making and also not setting an undesirable precedent.

"The issue of protecting the countryside for its own sake has been previously upheld at appeal."

But members were also told the application had strong support from Old Cleeve Parish Council, which believed the tennis court would provide Mr Hobbs' 30 or so staff with an invaluable leisure facility.

Parish councillors felt the tennis court would reduce traffic on roads in Bilbrook as many stable staff currently drove into Minehead to use sports facilities there.

Meanwhile, other employees had no transport and the tennis court would be of "immense benefit" for all concerned.

Planning committee members ultimately agreed and gave permission for the tennis court subject to a number of conditions.

l In contrast, members refused to approve revisions being made at a development at Holford Glen Garage, Holford, despite officers advising them to give the go-ahead.

They had been recommended to treat variations between approved drawings and a house which was already under construction as minor amendments and therefore acceptable.

But committee members felt the variations were anything but minor and referred the application back to the developer.

The variations included a one metre difference in the ridge height of a two-storey section of the building and the fact the house had been constructed half a metre closer to the highway than permitted.

l Committee members opted to hold a site meeting before deciding whether to refuse or allow a menage to be retained in a field off Hangerlands Lane, Higher Vexford.

They had been recommended to refuse the retrospective planning application, but instead decided to take a closer look to judge the visual impact of the development for themselves.