COUNCILLORS overturned the advice of their officers and refused permission for a static caravan said to resemble a permanent home.

Approval for the caravan, which has a brickwork skirt, was sought by Mrs A Whitehouse in a Green Belt field on Chester Road, Dunham Hill.

Mrs Whitehouse told planning officers at Cheshire West and Chester Council she seeking permission to vary a condition on a planning permission for four touring caravans on the Gypsy and Traveller site to allow one to be a mobile home.

Planning permission was granted on appeal in 2008 for the change of use of the land, owned by Mrs Whitehouse and her family, to enable it to be occupied as a Gypsy and Traveller site.

The inspector allowed no more than four touring caravans, none of which should be static, having heard that was what was required at the time.

Parish councillors and a neighbour objected to the new application.

The main issue, suggested planning officers, was the effect on the openness of the Green Belt of replacing a touring caravan with a larger static caravan.

Recommending approval, they believed it would be unreasonable to withhold permission.

The static caravan would not be significantly larger, they pointed out and the site only had a temporary permission until 2011.

Agents for Mrs Whitehouse confirmed that a brick skirt around the base of the caravan was intended to prevent draughts from entering the home.

The issue was called in to a Cheshire West and Chester planning board by Mickle Trafford Cllr Eleanor Johnson (Con).

Colleague ward councillor Brian Crowe (Con) commented: "The inspector had allowed the appeal on the basis of touring caravans only 12 months ago.

"It beats me how our officers can recommend approval for a static caravan."

Cllr Norman Wright (Con, Marbury) suggested the caravan "is more like a residential home" while board deputy chairman Cllr Andrew Storrar (Con, Mickle Trafford) added: "This represents the thin end of the wedge.

"I have no doubt that if the application is approved it will be followed by further applications, probably retrospective."

Cllr Crowe moved refusal and was advised by area planning manager Iwan Hughes the council could potentially face costs at any appeal.

"I am well aware of that," replied Cllr Crowe and the board agreed on a 7-2 vote the application should be rejected.

Councillors said they would have accepted a larger touring caravan.