A MUCH-depleted planning control committee shunted a wedding reception venue at old Horsebridge railway station into the sidings when members unanimously rejected an application for a semi-permanent marquee.

Owner Val Charrington wants permission to erect a marquee for four months each summer to keep on track the popular wedding reception venue at the former station.

But the scheme ran into the buffers on Tuesday when all six members attending the Test Valley Borough Council committee - led by stand-in chairman Cllr Martin Hatley, and has a full membership of 13 - voted against the application.

Afterwards, however, Mrs Charrington confirmed that she would appeal against the decision.

The application was brought to planning control because southern area planning committee narrowly voted in favour of the marquee against officers' advice.

Broughton and Stockbridge ward Cllr Peter Boulton - who is not a member of the committee but was allowed to speak - said he and fellow ward member Cllr Daniel Busk, as well as King's Somborne Cllr Tony Ward, all supported the application. None of them are members of planning control.

Mr Boulton said: "This could be a reasonable departure from policy, which is very unclear and not specific to marquees."

But planning officers kept on track with their view that the marquee went against policy and was an "undesirable and unsustainable development in the countryside".

And the committee agreed. Cllr Alan Dowden said: "I'm certainly going to support the officers in this because it's clearly against policy and I'm worried what the future may bring if this were to get permission."

All receptions booked this year are secure because chief planning officer Madalene Winter said that although the council would serve an enforcement notice it would not issue a stop notice, pending the appeal.