THE vice-chair of Worcester's planning committee has made an extraordinary intervention into the Middle Battenhall Farm saga - claiming fellow councillors are "hell-bent on pushing it towards an appeal".

Labour Councillor Geoff Williams has voiced his unease on the stand-off with Miller Homes by suggesting Worcester City Council is taking a serious risk.

Last week, the planning committee decided to block Miller Homes' bid to build 200 properties on the beauty spot for a second time after drawing up 10 possible reasons why it should be refused.

They voted to be 'minded to refuse' and asked officers to produce a fresh report on how the rejection reasons would stand up with an independent inspector.

But the delay means the 16-week time limit for a firm 'yes' or 'no' expires today, meaning Miller Homes could start the appeal process.

Councillor Williams, who chaired the meeting last Thursday and voted against being 'minded to refuse' before it was passed 8-2, said: "I think some members of the committee appear hell-bent on pushing the application towards an appeal.

"In my view, that will certainly take the decision away from local democracy."

But the stance has been rejected by other members of the committee, who have told your Worcester News they disagree entirely.

Councillor David Wilkinson, who led the calls to block it, said today: "I feel so strongly about the principle of this that I am prepared to say 'if they go to appeal, let them go to appeal'.

"I entirely accept decisions need to be made on material planning grounds, but it's clear there is a general consensus among committee members and the wider population to reject this.

"The whole scenario appears to be wrong and I want those possible rejection reasons explored as thoroughly as possible."

In the wake of last week's vote, Miller Homes has released a statement on the situation.

It states: "Miller Homes looks forward to hearing from officers on how the planning committee's decision, and the preferred reasons for refusal will be taken forward."

It did not respond to queries on where the developer stands on an appeal, but that prospect currently appears unlikely due to the fresh delay it would spark.

If it chooses to not accept a time extension from the city council, it could appeal in the knowledge that independent inspectors work towards a so-called ’26-week guarantee’, a Government demand which means a decision must be made within that timeframe.

That does not include the time Worcester’s planning officers have spent on the case so far.

The risks to the city council are that any appeal takes the matter away from councillors – and that defeat could lumber taxpayers’ with hefty appeal costs.

The site is not earmarked for homes in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), but as that document has yet to be approved by an inspector, the city council's planning officers have controversially recommended that Middle Battenhall Farm is built on.

The speculative bid has infuriated campaigners, leading to 1,000 objections including the likes of the Ramblers Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Battlefields Trust and various conservation and heritage experts.

The site is home to a 900-year-old Scheduled Monument, with ancient ponds and a moat.

The only other city councillor to vote against being ‘minded to refuse’ last week was Councillor Roger Berry.

A fresh vote is now expected to take place on Thursday, July 16.

* To see what we said about this last week go HERE.

* To recap on our live coverage of the planning committee debate, follow THIS link.