A VINEYARD owner on the Shotley Peninsula has lost his appeal to the planning inspectorate to build a winery on a field near the parish church.Stephen Williams, managing director of Witenagemot Wines, lodged an appeal after Babergh District Planners turned down his application for the winery in Barn Field.

A VINEYARD owner on the Shotley Peninsula has lost his appeal to the planning inspectorate to build a winery on a field near the parish church.

Stephen Williams, managing director of Witenagemot Wines, lodged an appeal after Babergh district planners turned down his application for the winery in Barn Field.

Mr Williams had argued that building the winery would bring jobs to a depressed area of the peninsula.

However, planning inspector Roger Brown, dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it would be harmful to the setting of St Mary's Church.

Mr Williams said: "This is a perverse decision and contrary to the evidence submitted. If we do not have a new wine facility by next harvest we will have too many grapes and some will have to be destroyed next year.

"We have had excellent growing conditions this year and could be a major employer but without the new facility this cannot happen."

Mr Williams said he had several more applications in the pipeline.