A LIVESTOCK breeder has failed in a bid to challenge the latest in a series of planning rebuffs which, he claims, have thwarted his ambitions to develop and diversity his business.

In recent years Andrew Cleghorn, trading as Cleek Poultry Ltd, has been refused consent by Scottish Borders Council planning officers for several developments on his eight-acre Kirkburn smallholding at Kirkburn at Cardrona.

These proposals have included mushroom growing sheds, a flotation pool for rare breed cattle, a building in which to rear rabbits and a cold storage shed for poultry.

And last year he was denied permission to create a pagan shrine, with a sacred well and altar, on his land which lies on the back road from Innerleithen to Peebles.

These rejections were later endorsed by the council’s nine-member local review body (LRB).

Undaunted, Mr Cleghorn submitted four other new applications at the end of last year for buildings to house agricultural equipment, other machinery and straw as well as “welfare accommodation” for livestock.

Each bid was rejected by SBC’s local planning officer Craig Miller, using his delegated powers.

As he had done with previous applications from Mr Cleghorn, Mr Miller determined the proposals would have an adverse impact on the designated Tweed Valley Special Landscape Area in which Kirkburn lies.

He also raised concerns about increased traffic and cast doubt on the economic justification for development.

On Monday, an entire meeting of the LRB at Newtown was devoted to Mr Cleghorn’s appeals against the four rebuttals.

In written submissions, Mr Cleghorn stressed his proposals would “be contained with the nucleus of existing buildings” and would thus have no adverse visual impact.

But the LRB disagreed, upholding the decisions of Mr Miller and dismissing all four of Mr Cleghorn’s appeals.