A HUGE new marina on the city’s outskirts has been sunk by planners.

The 202-berth marina would have been dug out on what is currently a fallow field to the north of the Sixways stadium, linking with the Worcester and Birmingham canal.

But Wychavon District Council has followed its officers’ recomendation to refuse planning permission at the site because it was in the green belt.

Planning committee members’ opposition to the plan was not universal, three councillors voting in favour.

Coun Margaret Rowley said: “I was disappointed with the officers’ recomendation and thought that sites with recreational use could be passed in the green belt.

“There is a need for marina moorings, particularly with the completion of the Droitwich canals project.”

However, Gill Collin, Wychavon’s planning chief, cautioned members on setting a precedent by voting for a development in the green belt which flew in the face of existing national policy.

Coun Rowley asked how it was that Worcester Sixways stadium had been granted permission in the green belt, and was told by Mrs Collin the plan had passed the policy test showing “special reasons”, such as the boost to the wider economy.

Mrs Collin said recreational use was limited to golf courses and football pitches. Coun Judy Pearce, elected planning chief and committee member, said it was up to the applicants Mr and Mrs Broderick to prove the special reasons and “they haven’t done that”.

Councillors voted 10-4 in favour of refusal, with one abstention. A vote for approval was defeated 10-3.