A controversial plan to extend a mid-Essex golf club has been thrown out by councillors.

The Notleys Golf Club had applied for planning permission to build a new nine-hole course on land south-west of The Green, White Notley.

Council planning officers had said the development was acceptable on policy, amenity and highway safety grounds and recommended giving it the go-ahead.

But at a meeting of Braintree Council's Witham area committee yesterday members refused planning permission and not one councillor voted in favour of the development.

Sue Bell, representing the applicants, told the meeting the plan had the backing of Sport England and was needed to provide the recommended provision of sporting facilities for an area with a fast-growing population.

Several residents of The Green attended the meeting to voice their objections to the development, citing planning law and policy, loss of amenity to residents, traffic hazards with pedestrians on a busy road, and pollution from light, noise and litter.

Published Wednesday January 21, 2004

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