A FARMHOUSE set on fire by vandals in 1997 looks likely to remain a burnt out shell after its owner lost his battle to complain against the planning authority.

Edward Barker sought to bring a complaint against Hambleton District Council after it refused to remove an agricultural occupancy clause on Whitelass House, Stockton Road, near South Kilvington, Thirsk.

Mr Barker has failed five times over the past ten years to lift the condition, which forbids anyone not connected with agriculture from living in the house.

A meeting of the authority's standards committee ruled that it did not have a complaint to answer.

Mr Barker has been invited to put in a fresh planning application but has refused.

Speaking after the meeting, he said: "There isn't any more that can be done to address the occupancy condition.

"Hopefully something will change in the future.

"In the meantime, Whitelass House is a sorry monument."

During the meeting, he accused planners of bullying him over the agricultural occupancy condition.

He said they misled the Planning Inspectorate at his appeal.

Mr Barker also said the department had imposed a blanket tree preservation order around his home.

Steve Quartermain, head of development control for the authority, refuted all the allegations.

He said the planning process had been clear and fair and the council had dealt with each application on its individual merits.

Mr Quartermain said Mr Barker's applications had failed because he had refused to supply vital information on how on how he had marketed the property.