A BRISTOL planning inspector has dismissed an appeal by the Heytesbury parish council chairman.

Mrs Louise Morris, of Duck Cottage, Park Lane, Heytesbury, had appealed against Wiltshire Council’s refusal in April to allow a detached double garage with storage in the roof space above.

Mrs Morris is chairman of Heytesbury, Knook & Imber Parish Council, which did not object to the application.

The planning inspector, S Shapland, agreed with Wiltshire Council’s reasons for refusal, in that the proposed development would harm the character and appearance of the area.

The appeal proposal was for the construction of a large double garage which would have included a first-floor element for storage with access via an external staircase.

It would have been clad in feather edged larch timber with a natural slate roof.

A new vehicular access was also proposed, with the existing access being stopped up and reinstated with hedgerows.

The inspector said the proposed garage was in a prominent location within the appeal site, and would be highly visible from a number of public viewpoints including the public highway.

Furthermore, there is a public right of way which was close to the rear of the appeal site.

Whilst there are currently mature hedgerows which would provide an element of screening, the proposed garage would be highly visible from the right of way.

The inspector said: “The proposal would introduce excessive built form into the pleasant side garden location.

“Consequently, the scale and massing of the proposal would be out of keeping with the rural nature of this location and does not preserve nor enhance the landscape.”