The Stretton Lakes holiday and fishing park has launched an appeal against Rutland County Council, which recently blocked a move to extend the venue.

Owners Mr and Mrs R Needham sought to build 24 pitches for touring caravans and create an extra fishing lake on 3.6ha of 'low quality' farmland off Clipsham Road, Stretton.

The couple said having touring caravan sites and an extra lake would help diversify their award-winning business, which has already been 'turning away' such potential custom.

As previously reported by Nub News, Rutland County Council recently turned down their planning application.

The council said the proposed development would be 'unsustainable' as it would generate extra traffic and there was no evidence to say there was a business or community need for such a development, which would also use farmland.

Last week, in a report to the planning committee, Rutland County planners added: "The submitted evidence does not adequately demonstrate that it would be essential for the caravan pitches and fishing lake to be located at the site.

"The Local Authority consider on balance that the perceived benefit would not outweigh the loss of this area of quality agricultural land."

It comes as Rutland County Council also opposed two caravan schemes in Manton, as also previously reported by Nub News, here and here.