Panfield residents this week lost their fight to stop a "hobby farm" being developed in the village.

Over 250 villagers signed a protest petition in a bid to prevent parish councillor, Stephen Halls, building two barns on a five-acre plot on the former Panfield Farm in Hall Road.

At Tuesday's meeting of Braintree District Council's Braintree area committee Panfield parish council chairman, David Peak, spoke of the damage to community spirit the protest has caused.

"It is a great pity this matter has been blown out of all planning proportions," he said.

Presenting a two-year management plan to the committee, Mr Halls said: "For many years I have had a deep interest in agriculture, conservation and the countryside. "The ownership of this land is an extension of that hobby."

The land would be used for hay and for the grazing of livestock, he said.

Villagers claimed the plan would be out of character with the village, would be visually damaging to the area and could set a precedent for future development of the land.

The risk of flooding, fire and traffic hazards were also cited.

Villager Tony Graves told the meeting: "We do not find this application credible. If it is successful it will spoil the enjoyment of the homes of eight families in the road for the benefit of Mr Hall's hobby."

Despite the objections, the plan won the support of councillors.

David Mann said: "If I was a Panfield resident I would be very alarmed indeed at the prospect of residential or industrial development for this site. But that is not what we have before us tonight.

"The Trojan Horse argument doesn't hold water. If in the future we are presented with new plans for this land - for housing or industry - then that would be very resistible indeed."

Cllr Barbara Buchan added: "This is a mainly agricultural area. In a rural area you expect a farm."

The application was granted with the condition that the use of the land was specific to the applicant and that traditional Essex weatherboarding be used for the barns.

After the meeting Mr Halls said: "I am very pleased, this is a justified result because my intentions are honourable.

Protester, Mary Bloomfield, said: "Of course we are not happy that this application has been passed and we shall be seeing if we can take this further. We are just satisfied that such strict conditions have been attached to it."

Planning protest: Panfield residents with the 256-name petition objecting to the building of two barns in Hall Road.

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