A FAMILY has been left 'devastated' by a council decision to refuse them permission to convert an old shed into a bungalow with disabled access.

Claire and Steve Snead requested permission to build the home for their whole family to live in on land owned by the family in Sutton St. Nicholas.

Herefordshire Council's planning department refused the scheme in December last year and Mrs Snead launched a petition asking for it to be reconsidered.

With support from ward councillor Kema Guthrie, neighbours and Marden Parish Council, the application was re-submitted and considered by the council's planning committee last week.

It was recommended for refusal again because it was contrary to local planning policies, considered to be an 'unsustainable' form of development and because of the design and impact on open countryside.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Guthrie said: "This local family have much support from neighbours and friends. They want to create a single-storey home where elderly parents could be provided with the help and support they need.

"Contrary to the officer's report, it is my view this site is in a sustainable location.

"The application was supported by Marden Parish Council despite it being outside the Neighbourhood Development Plan Area."

Cllr David Summers and Cllr Felicity Norman made calls for a policy to be adopted which would deal with health and wellbeing in a planning context, given an increase in the number of similar applications.

However, members stated that the scheme did not comply with local planning policies and a decision should be made on the application – not the applicant or personal circumstances.

Cllr Powers said: "This committee is here to give approval to development and applications and not to the applicants. The policy is what we are obliged to work within.

"On policy grounds I have to go with the officer recommendation to refuse it because otherwise our inconsistencies and flagrant breach of policy open the floodgates for rural development all over this county."

Cllr Swinglehurst added: "I think we are well aware that personal circumstances are not a material consideration. We are not qualified to make a judgement. It's not our business to make that judgement. We refused this application in December. It is essentially the same and it would be laughable for this committee to come out with a randomly different answer to the same question."

The scheme was refused 10-1, with two abstentions.

Speaking after the meeting, Mrs Snead said her family felt 'betrayed' by the system and would be considering their next steps.