A HALE businessman whose plans to convert his 11-bed guesthouse into a 51-bedroom hotel have been turned down by councillors - having won their provisional backing - has vowed to fight on with a fresh planning application.

Mark Wilson, who owns the Poacher's Barn Hotel on the Hale Road, next to the Six Bells roundabout, told The Herald he was "miffed" that his hotel extension plans were thwarted by Waverley council's Development Control Committee on Monday night, just weeks after winning the support of the Western Area Development Control sub-committee.

Then, the plans were backed six votes to one, after an officer recommendation to refuse was voted down six-to-five.

But because that approval was contrary to Waverley planning policy, it had to be referred up to the higher Development Control Committee. That committee voted seven-to-two against the extension.

Speaking to The Herald this week, Mr Wilson said: "I'm rather surprised, when you think that there was a vote six-to-one for the plans at the last western area sub-committee meeting. I'm a bit miffed.

"I think the really important thing is that it won a majority vote at Farnham and those sub-committee members live in Farnham. I can't see the point in it being discussed again at Godalming, because it would need the approval of GOSE (the Government Office for the South East) anyway.

"But I'm not giving up. I'm going to come up with a revised application. I can't say any more than that at that moment."

The support Mr Wilson won at the area planning sub-committee was thin on the ground when the overall planning committee met on Monday night - even though four of the councillors who were present sit on both.

Councillors acknowledged that they had to make a finely balanced decision, weighing up the widely accepted need for hotel accommodation against planning guidance designed to protect the adjacent Farnham Park and a "strategic gap" between Farnham and Hale.

Vice-chairman of the committee Pam Hibbert (Conservative, Frensham, Dockenfield and Tilford) who voted for the application at the western area sub-committee, was a lone voice of support.

"I've read and re-read the literature and the thing that has swayed me in favour is that hotel accommodation is desperately needed. The new design is predominantly in the style of traditional farm buildings and would sit very nicely at the site, and it's not a very big gap anyway."

But Tony Newton (Lib Dem, Godalming South East) disagreed. "The question is whether Farnham should be allowed to sprawl. For that reason I find the remarks of Mrs Hibbert alarming."

Referring to the fact that permission for the existing Poacher's Barn Hotel was granted only after the previously residential building had been converted into a guesthouse, Mr Newton added: "I also don't believe we should be influenced too much by the fact that the plans are scaled down.

"Having taken the step to turn it into a guesthouse, without permission, a great thing to do if you want to hit someone with a 10 lb hammer is say you're actually going to hit them with a five lb hammer."

Also speaking against the development Mary Hunt (Lib Dem, Farnham Hale and Heath End) said: "Waverley Borough Council has a reputation for

adhering to central government advice on planning and I would say that this application pays scant regard to those policies.

"Villages have to be protected, not just for our lifetimes, but for our children's. Farnham Park should remain unblemished."

Mr Wilson's failed plans for a business-oriented hotel with conference facilities - scaled down from a rejected 80-bed hotel - had won the backing of the town council and by neighbouring Rushmoor, Guildford and Hart councils, the Surrey Wildlife Trust and the South East England Tourist Board.

The neighbouring Church of St John also supported the extension as Mr Wilson had promised shared use of his car park and has already donated land for more graves.

But there were objections from Surrey County Council and the Farnham Society.