THE owner of a fish farm has accused council bosses of leaving him vulnerable to poachers after they refused his last-ditch appeal to keep a mobile home next to a lake.

Ribble Valley councillors failed to overturn their decision to insist the mobile home, at Pendle View Fisheries on the A59 in Barrow, must be removed from the site.

The council had approved the mobile home on a temporary basis, every two years since 1983 - but when the current owners, including Philip Harvey, again applied to have it renewed, it was refused.

The mobile home, next to the main fishing lake, had been home to two members of the company, who were able to respond to emergencies such as rising water and break-ins.

The planning renewal was refused earlier this year, and backed by the planning inspector on appeal - but now councillors have refused to reconsider their decision, despite a 1,000-signature petition presented to them.

Mr Harvey, who appealed to the committee in person on Tuesday, said: "Since we were told we'd have to move the mobile home the couple living in it have moved out.

"In the space of a month we've had two cases of people coming on and stealing trout, so it's damaging our business.

"We have another building on the site, but it is at the other end of the 20 acres we own, so they can't keep watch of the lake where the trout are.

"The business in two or three years will be strong enough to support a nightwatchman, but not yet. We need two couples on the site to deal with emergencies.

"Flash floods happen around here all the time, so we need two couples of site to open sluice gates to get rid of extra water, and to let emergency services on if need be.

"There's now more risk of theft and not being able to react to a flood quickly, which could result in the A59 flooding as a result.

"I find it odd that the council can approve a McDonald's, which can be seen from the road, but refuse us a concealed caravan on grounds of it being detrimental to the view."

His appeal fell on deaf ears, and councillors sanctioned enforcement action, if needed, to remove the mobile home.