A FORMER district councillor s hopes of creating a leisure facility on the outskirts of a Fenland village have been dashed because it was planned for the countryside. Fenland District Council ruled that Robert Sears application for the stables near his h

A FORMER district councillor's hopes of creating a leisure facility on the outskirts of a Fenland village have been dashed because it was planned for the countryside.

Fenland District Council ruled that Robert Sears' application for the stables near his home in Fodder Fen Road, Manea, would "introduce a non-agricultural use in the countryside".

Planning officers also turned down Mr Sears' application because the stables would be exposed in the Fenland landscape, and because insufficient information was submitted showing the need for the livery of the scale proposed.

Middle Level Commissioners also raised concerns that a flood risk assessment did not include enough information about how drainage from the livery would not have an adverse impact on existing drainage from neighbouring houses.

Mr Sears, who was Manea's representative on Fenland District Council for 18 months until he was defeated in this year's elections by Mark Archer, proposed a courtyard-style block of 20 stables as well as a school for training horses.

Agent Chris Walford said in a supporting statement Mr Sears hoped the facility would provide a leisure facility for the community.

"Mr Sears believes this facility is a fundamental need for the community, due to Manea being a growing village," said Mr Walford, adding that Mr Sears hoped to provide an off-road riding track as part of the livery.

However, planning officers said there was no mention of this track in the application.