A second application for a gypsy site on the green belt in Wilmslow has been refused by councillors.

Applicant John Allan hoped to build a gypsy pitch, day room and hard standing for a caravan on land he owns off Moor Lane.

Despite an almost identical application being refused in January last year, Mr Allan resubmitted the plans with an ecological survey. He argued that he should be granted permission on the grounds that his son needs to be close to Wythenshawe Hospital and that there is a lack of alternative sites in town.

But councillors on the Northern Planning Committee agreed that the special circumstances were not sufficient to stray from green belt policy, which prevents building in the protected area.

Speaking at the meeting at Macclesfield Town Hall on Wednesday, Coun Gary Barton said: “This is almost exactly the same as the previous application. We have had a very large amount of public opposition to the application with objections running into the hundreds.

“It should be refused again because it’s contrary to government and local planning policies.

“The applicant suggested that his children are registered at local schools but research into that suggests this isn’t true.”

Coun David Neilson said: “Initially I was quite sympathetic to the  applicant and I think we have to make sure we don’t discriminate, but if this was for a house on the green belt we would be saying no.”

Coun Ken Edwards criticised officers’ decision to bring the second application to committee. He said: “I’m surprised that this application has come before the committee and I remember objecting at the earlier stage. I have to say it’s a waste of everybody’s time bringing it to committee.”