A FARMER has been refused permission for s second time for fishing lakes on his land. Graham Hall, aged 43, said it would be the local community which lost out after councillors rejected the proposal for two lakes at Hanrox Meadow in Blunts Lane, Potters

A FARMER has been refused permission for s second time for fishing lakes on his land.

Graham Hall, aged 43, said it would be the local community which lost out after councillors rejected the proposal for two lakes at Hanrox Meadow in Blunts Lane, Potters Crouch - but he intends to appeal against the decision.

Mr Hall proposed to build a two-metre deep and a 1.5-metre deep carp lake so that people could fish for sport.

He also wanted to convert a stable block that his family currently lives in into a manager's hut to house a night watchman to protect the fish.

Council officers recommended that the application should be refused because there was an outstanding enforcement notice to prevent Mr Hall using the stable block as his home which he was ignoring.

They were also concerned that granting Mr Hall permission to use the stables as the manager's office would be as good as letting him use it as his house because he proposed that he and his family should act as the night watchmen.

Speaking after the planning committee meeting on Monday, committee member Cllr Chris Brazier said they had no problem with the fishing lakes but they did not want Mr Hall building on the Green Belt.