NATIONAL park planners will look again at a controversial decision to fine the owner of a listed building in Halton Gill for altering the inside of his property without planning consent.

The decision to prosecute Michael Myers, who had applied for retrospective planning permission for work carried out at Angram Farm, was made by the authority at a recent planning committee meeting.

The vote was won by the narrowest of margins and stirred up anger among members of the national park and parish meeting who were opposed to the decision.

At another meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday Stephen Butcher said he had been appalled by the decision, particularly as the vote was won by such a narrow margin with several abstentions and other members unable to attend the meeting. Others called the decision "misguided" and "damaging".

It followed allegations that Mr Myers had "committed a criminal offence" after removing timbers, internal stone flags, a fireplace, mullions, sills and lintels as well as much evidence of the original layout of the first and loft floor areas. But Mr Myers said the house had undergone many changes since it was built and no one really knew exactly how it was to start with.

At Tuesday's meeting the committee decided to allow further consideration of the issue and it will be brought back to the next meeting in May.

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