A PROTESTING farmer who threatened to paint a water tower mustard yellow in a planning row has lost his battle to build a house on the land.

And Paul Kenny is furious that he never received official notification from a Government-appointed inspector that his planning appeal had failed. He was refused permission by the Ribble Valley Council to build a house at his farm in Tosside Road, Slaidburn, because it would be "an eyesore," even though there is a 20ft water tower at the site.

The inspector has rejected his appeal on the grounds that the proposed dwelling would "unacceptably harm the character and appearance of the Forest of Bowland."

The farmer wanted to build the house beneath a hill at his Stanridge Farm for himself and his wife, so that his son-in-law, who travels to work at the farm by tractor from Barnoldswick, could move into the farmhouse.

Councillors decided that the second house was justified, but "inappropriately located." They wanted the house moved 50 yards nearer the farmhouse into a peat bog which Mr Kenny claimed would cost a fortune to drain.

He then threatened to take drastic action and paint the water tower mustard yellow.

Now he has threatened to give them an "eyesore to remember" and said he was shocked that the Press knew of the appeal outcome before he did.

Mr Kenny has been depositing redundant agricultural machinery at the picturesque spot in protest and said it was "now time to put a bit more junk up there."

"What can I do now? Houses are being built all around here, but mine has been refused.

"If they want an eyesore, then they are going to get one. I'll just have to put a bit more junk up there. I'm not letting it drop," he said.

The angry farmer also said he was shocked not to have received official notification of the appeal outcome.

"If that's the way the Planning Inspectorate goes about doing confidential business then it's shameful.

"To have to find out from a member of the Press ringing you up for a comment is an absolute disgrace," he said.

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