A Bentham couple’s plans to downsize and build a smaller house in the grounds of their home have been dashed.

Craven District Council’s planning committee was divided over whether the planned single storey home in the grounds of Mewith House, around a mile outside the town, represented isolated development in the countryside.

The meeting heard from applicant Felicity Hey, a Bentham town councillor and leading member of the town’s Conservative Association, how she and her husband wanted to stay in the area, but in a smaller house. She said the new home would be single storey with a dormer, would be within walking distance of Bentham and close to the Mewith crossroads, where there was a small hamlet.

Coun Linda Brockbank (Cons, Bentham), who recommended approval, agreed the house would not be isolated and added there was a major business in the hamlet in addition to five or six houses.

Coun Lin Barrington (Ind, Bentham) agreed with her fellow ward councillor that it would not be isolated at all.

Coun David Ireton (Ind, Ingleton) said the site was a rural location, but not isolated and added that in his opinion, Bentham was better served than Sutton-in-Craven, where a plan for ten new homes had just been approved.

Coun Robert Mason (Ind, West Craven) said he knew Mewith very well and also agreed it was far from isolated.

But Coun Ady Green (Cons, Cowling) feared it would set a precedent and spark other applications for new homes in the countryside and recommended refusal.

“We can’t pass this, it is new development in the countryside, whichever way you look at it,” he said.

And Coun John Kerwin-Davey (Ind, Skipton North) said if the house was approved, it would be difficult for the council to ever refuse another house in any position again.

A vote was taken on the first recommendation to approve the application and was lost on the casting vote of chairman Coun Richard Welch (Cons, Penyghent).

A second vote, to refuse the application in line with officer recommendation, was won after one councillor abstained.

Coun Welch said he had to follow the officer’s recommendation and gave his apologies to the applicant, Mrs Hey.