The owner of a Rayne coach company has slammed the council after a planning appeal to relocate his business was dismissed.

Leslie Smith, of Fargo Coachlines, appealed against Braintree Council's decision not to grant permission for the company to demolish workshops, offices and a swimming pool at the site in Allviews, School Road.

The plan was to build five homes on the site, as well as changing the access roads and carrying out landscaping. The coach company would then move to a different site outside Rayne.

Despite claims the redevelopment of the land would benefit the area on environmental and safety grounds at an appeal hearing held at Town Hall Centre, Braintree, two weeks ago, the planning inspectorate ruled in favour of the council.

The council initially refused the proposal last year, saying it would introduce an alien urban feature into the landscape and went against policy for residential development in the countryside.

Rayne Parish Council backed the coach company, claiming the plans would mean fewer coaches driving through the village.

Mr Smith said he would now be taking advice from his representatives on whether to take the appeal to the High Court.

He said: "All we are trying to do is find a suitable site we can use 24 hours a day."

Published Friday, June 27, 2003

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