PLANS to erect a luxury “safari tent” in the middle of a New Forest field have been thrown out.

Civic chiefs have refused to allow a New Forest farmer to boost his income by £25,000 a year by building a two bedroom "safari" tent on his land.

Graham Witt had sought consent to put the tent with a verandah on land at Midgham Farm, near Fordingbridge.

He was represented at a meeting of the district council by planning consultant Jack Edwards, who said none of the people consulted by the authority had objected to the application.

Mr Edwards stressed that farmers needed to diversify, adding that the tent would generate income of £1,000 a week for six months of the year.

Cllr Anna Rostand was one of several members who supported the proposal.

She told the committee: “My family love glamping. There are other sites in the area that are doing it – they are even doing it on The Archers.

“We should support local enterprise. That’s what the council says it does – let’s put our money where our mouth is.”

Cllr Maureen Holding said the Forest derived 75 per cent of its income from tourism.

She added: “We will lose a lot of our smallholdings if we don’t support them. Income of £1,000 a week could make a great difference to whether a smallholding keeps going.”

But planning officers said a 30ft long tent, mounted on a concrete base, would look out of place in the middle of a field.

And councillors warned that approving the application would set a precedent that could result in concrete bases “popping up everywhere” in the countryside.

Cllr John Olliff-Cooper reminded members that Fordingbridge Parish Council supported the proposal, but critics of the scheme claimed it breached planning policies that aimed to protect the countryside.

Cllr David Harrison said: “You have to have compelling reasons for going against policy.”

The proposal was rejected by nine votes to four on the grounds it would damage the quiet rural character and appearance of the area.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Witt said he was still deciding whether to lodge an appeal.

The 35-year-old father of two added: “It’s a nice little site between two woods and would provide a week’s peace and quiet for people living in cities. We’ve stayed in safari tents and know how nice they can be.

“As a result of the council’s decision we’ll either appeal or go down another avenue.”