A PLAN to demolish a rundown Grappenhall bungalow has been refused despite support from councillors and neighbours.

Steve Tilsturn wanted to knock down the property at Yew Tree Farm in Broad Lane - but the council thought the replacement house was too big for green belt land.

The planning committee voted to refuse it because greenbelt extensions are not supposed to be more than a 30 per cent increase on the original property.

There was an argument over the precise figure, but the council's opinion was that the new property would be a 63 per cent increase in footprint'.

The vote was taken at last Wednesday's planning meeting at the town hall. It went in the face of strong support for the plan.

Clr Mike Biggin, (LD - Grappenhall), said demolishing the crumbling' 1970s bungalow and its outbuildings would be of beneficial impact to the green belt, not to its detriment'.

Neighbour Chris Platt said: "The bungalow is an ugly utilitarian building and I can't see any mourning it's passing."