THE latest instalment in a long-running planning saga over a traveller s site in Redbourn has seen a planning inspector refusing the owner s appeal against a refusal to allow him to build a barn there. One of Ned Stanley s grounds for appeal against the r

THE latest instalment in a long-running planning saga over a traveller's site in Redbourn has seen a planning inspector refusing the owner's appeal against a refusal to allow him to build a barn there.

One of Ned Stanley's grounds for appeal against the refusal was that the barn was essential for him to carry on his "horse breeding business" at Tullochside Farm off Hemel Hempstead Road.

However, back in 2006, a planning inspector imposed a planning condition that no commercial activity could be carried out on the site.

St Albans District Council (SADC) refused permission for the barn in November 2008 on the grounds that it was on Green Belt land.

The latest decision by a planning inspector upholds the SADC decision pointing out that, although an equestrian facility might be deemed appropriate use of Green Belt land there is nothing to indicate that Mr Stanley's commercial use of the land is even lawful.

Mr Stanley keeps, breeds and stables horses there. He owns up to 65 horses at any one time. Most of them are kept on a substantial are of land rented elsewhere. On the appeal site and adjoining land up to 14 horses at a time are kept. They comprise stallions, mares close to foaling, foals and sick animals. Approximately 35 foals a year are born and the appellant sells them at horse fairs throughout the country.

Mr Stanley claimed the proposed barn was essential for storage of bales of hay for horse at the stables.

The inspector also felt that the current development on the appeal site was not conducive to the appearance of the "attractive gently rolling countryside" in that area and the addition of the barn would be even more intrusive.