THE chairman of Worcester's Conservatives has revealed his anguish over Middle Battenhall Farm - calling the battle to preserve the site "a tragedy".

Dr David Tibbutt has urged the city council's planning committee to unite and agree to defend an appeal from Miller Homes over building 200 homes at the ancient beauty spot.

As we revealed last month, the developer has appealed to national inspectors on 'non-determination' after the city council twice failed to make a firm decision on it.

A vote is now taking place later this month over whether the council should defend itself at appeal or give way.

Dr Tibbutt, a former Worcester mayor who retired as a city councillor after 10 years service back in May last year, says the tense battle is causing serious concern.

He also told your Worcester News he feels the planning committee should not fear the financial implications of losing an appeal - insisting the city council should defend its corner, rather than back down because of money.

Whichever side ends up losing the appeal, they face having to fork out for the entire legal costs.

Dr Tibbutt said people would find it "outrageous" of the committee decided against fighting an appeal due to the money involved.

"It would be a travesty, an absolute travesty if Middle Battenhall Farm is allowed to be built on," he said.

"You ask yourself, where has localism gone? By taking it to appeal it means the decision is now effectively out the hands of the planning committee.

"In all my time I've never seen anything like it before.

"It should not be a consideration for the planning committee to say 'if we lose an appeal we might have to pay costs', if that happens it would be outrageous."

A report is currently being put together by planning officers which will offer councillors some guidance on what to do at the meeting on Thursday, August 20.

The land is supposed to be protected from development in the South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP), a blueprint created by councillors, but it has yet to be signed off by a Government assessor.

More than 11,000 objections have been handed to the council including organisations like the Ramblers Association, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the Battlefields Trust and various conservation and heritage experts.

The site is home to a 900-year-old Scheduled Monument, with ancient ponds and a moat.

Miller Homes insists it believes the site is "sustainable" for 200 homes and says the monument will benefit from a trail and new interpretation boards if the development is accepted.