THE owner of an 11-bedroom Farnham guesthouse is appealing against the refusal of his planning application to extend it to make a 51-bedroom hotel.

Mark Wilson, who owns the Poacher's Barn on Hale Road, near the Six Bells roundabout, had his extension bid rejected by Waverley councillors last month - after it had won initial support at a local sub-committee.

The plans were a scaled down version of an 80-bedroom hotel plan rejected last year.

Mr Wilson's agent, Gregory Gray Associates, contests Waverley planning officers' assertion that the farmhouse-style building would be out of character in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

In the grounds for appeal they say there is a "pressing need" for a hotel in Farnham - a claim backed by Farnham Chamber of Commerce and other trade and tourism groups .

They argue that the appeal site does not lie within an Area of Strategic Visual Importance, as claimed by planning officers.

The agents go on to say the extension would not harm the adjacent listed Church of St John and Broddick House, adding the hotel would be well served by public transport.

They conclude: "There is no overriding conflict with national, strategic or local planning policy and the proposed development is satisfactory on its merits."

The appeal will be decided by a public inquiry, followed by a site visit by a planning inspector.

Brewers George Gale & Co have appealed against refusal of their bid to add hotel facilities to the Princess Royal pub in Runfold.

Last month Waverley councillors rejected the Horndean company's planning application for a two-storey building housing 30 rooms linked to the existing pub.

The pub chain was advised by a planning officer, who said in a report that the proposed building would be "overlarge" and out of character, that it might succeed if it were to return with a more attractive proposal.

But George Gale & Co, which has an outstanding permission for a 30-bedroom hotel dating back to 1998, disagrees with the reasons for refusal and has decided to appeal instead.

The appeal will be decided at an informal hearing followed by a visit to the Guildford Road site by a planning inspector - date, time and venue to be confirmed.

The grounds for appeal states: "The application is of a smaller footprint and overall floorspace than the approved (1998) scheme.

"It is not considered that the siting, scale and design of the proposed hotel would be detrimental to the visual character and distinctiveness of the surrounding area.

"The amenity of neighbours and the local highway would not be adversely affected and it is further argued that the proposed alterations would make a positive contribution to the appearance of the site."