PIG farmer James Bodman has lost his appeal to build a bungalow for an employee.

Mr Bodman, of Windsmere Farm, Worton, put his case to planning inspector Peter Drew at a hearing in Devizes last month.

Kennet District Council refused planning permission for a bungalow at Mr Bodman's farm, and said he had not proved there was a functional need for it. It also said the building would harm the character of the area.

Mr Bodman has 3,200 pigs and employs one full-time stockman. He wanted to build the bungalow so he could take on another employee who could live on site.

He said he has had problems trying to recruit a second stockman because they do not want to travel to work.

As a result of not being able to employ another stockman, Mr Bodman works around 100 hours a week while his stockman, who lives on the farm, does about 70 hours a week.

A report carried out for Bodman concluded there was a need for a bungalow to be built at the farm.

However, the inspector, said in his letter of decision that Bodman and his stockman could carry out the duties required and there was no need for any other employees to live at the site.

Mr Drew said that in his opinion, contract labour or employees who were not resident could undertake routine tasks within set hours and, as such, it did not justify an additional farm worker being resident on site.

Mr Drew did however reject the council's argument that the bungalow would be out of keeping with the area.

Mr Bodman, who has built the farm up since he took it over 15 years ago, was bitterly disappointed at the inspector's decision.

He said after the decision: "I have invested a hell of a lot of money in the farm only to be told there is no justifiable need to build a bungalow to house an employee.

"We are told there are rural development agencies to help rural businesses. We are a thriving rural business but we are not being allowed to develop."

He said he could not afford to appeal against the decision and may have to reduce the number of pigs he has, due to the problems of finding an employee willing to travel to the farm.