A PLANNING committee has approved a plan by its own chairman to build an agricultural building just two metres from the boundary of her neighbours' home.

The Richmondshire district councillors voted nine to three to grant Jane Parlour permission for an 18.2m by 7.6m building to house farm machinery and implements - despite it being recommended for refused.

A planning officer's report had warned that the farm building at Dalton on Tees, near Croft, would have a "significant harmful impact" on Cllr Parlour's neighbours, Elizabeth and Neil Kearney, due to its closeness to their home.

Cllr Parlour said most villagers and the parish council supported her application, but the report included objections stating the building could be a fire hazard, attract vermin and increase danger to children and pedestrians with the resultant rise in farm activities on the nearby road.

Cllr Parlour, who left the council chamber during the debate, said she needed the building to safeguard her tractor from further diesel thefts and vandalism.

The committee accepted the site was the only suitable one on the farm - which has up to 100 suckler cows and 40 sheep - as much of it is situated on the site of a medieval settlement and field system, which is a designated ancient monument.

The committee's deputy chairman, John Blackie, said Cllr Parlour, whose family have farmed the site since the 1830s, had established a clear agricultural need and there were no alternative sites.

He said conditions had been imposed to ensure the building was not used intensively to keep animals and it was screened by trees.

Cllr Blackie said: "While it will be a new structure in the landscape, it isn't so overbearing."

Afterwards, Cllr Parlour said she had gone out of her way not to influence the decision but was thrilled by the outcome.

Mrs Kearney said they were devastated that the committee had approved the building and dismayed that the officer who wrote the report and had recommended refusal was unable to attend the meeting.

She said: "We believe there are other possible locations for this absolutely massive building which will make our garden so dark."