CONTROVERSIAL plans to site a container, polytunnel and fruit cage on rural land in Fenwick have been rejected by councillors.

Proposals had been submitted to East Ayrshire Council for the site to the west of the junction of Waterslap and Brookfield Grove. 

The site was said to be for the personal enjoyment of the applicant, and would not be for business or industrial use.

The proposed storage container would have been around six metres long and 2.6 metres high, and the polytunnel around seven metres long and 2.7 metres high. 

Both the storage container and polytunnel were already sited in the field, and retrospective permission was being sought following correspondence with the council's enforcement team.

However, the plans were met with anger by local residents, and a total of 11 objections were received, prompting a decision by EAC officials to refer it to the authority's planning committee for a final decision.

Opponents claimed that the structures would damage the look of the village and the surrounding conservation area.

Council planning officials agreed, and a recommendation of refusal was made to councillors at the planning committee on Friday, December 15.

A report from planning officers stated: "While the structures could be construed as agricultural, located on agricultural land, structures such as these are normally associated with an existing agricultural unit and are an ancillary element to the main farming operations.

"In this instance, there is no such connection with any existing agricultural unit or a farm steading complex and as a result the structures are divorced from any similar development and prominent structures in the rural area.

"The structures therefore appear alien in the landscape, especially in such close proximity to the settlement boundary, and in a location where no development has spread to the west of Waterslap.

"The development therefore does not pay respect to the undeveloped rural location and adversely impacts upon both the rural character of this site, and existing development pattern established by the tightly drawn settlement boundary around Laigh Fenwick.

"In conclusion, the proposal will negatively impact upon the existing visual landscape, built character and development pattern."

The recommendation of planning officials was unanimously accepted by the planning committee at the meeting.