A HOMEOWNER who had retrospective planning permission refused for a summerhouse and decking next to the River Wye has applied to keep some of the structure.

In March, Herefordshire Council refused permission for the £20,000 structure in the garden of Tim Woodcock's house in Hartland Close, Belmont.

Councillors said that the construction adversely affected the character and amenity of the landscape.

But Mr Woodcock, who said he had been told he did not need planning permission, has appealed the decision.

He has also submitted a new planning application which seeks to retain only the "least obtrusive elements of the applicant’s works."

Mr Woodcock wants to retain the area of decking close to his rear garden, much of which the council does not require to be removed, a single flight of stairs descending from this deck to link with a gravel path and steps.

The application does not include the retention of the existing summerhouse, the lower decking area or the long flight of timber stairs that extend down towards the bottom of the bank.