COUNCILLORS have again rejected plans for a temporary marquee at Casa Hotel and Restaurant in Brighouse – three weeks after they last rejected the same plan.

And there was some tension between Calderdale councillors with one, Clr Martin Peel, saying: “I am staggered that this committee voted for unemployment in Calderdale.”

Three weeks ago six councillors were split over the application to allow a temporary marquee at the Elland Road venue. The casting vote of the chairman saw the application rejected, but there was some irregularities in the voting process which meant it had to go back before the planning committee.

Yesterday, with seven members on the committee, it was voted four to three against granting permission. It means that Casa does not have full planning permission for the marquee, although they can use it 28 times a year.

Elland’s Clr David Hardy said: “I applaud the effort of the applicant. It was very run down a few years ago and it’s now a vibrant part of the community. Purely for the jobs I can’t put them in jeopardy in any way in the economic climate we are in and it’s my view this should be put to bed and we permit it.”

But Clr Martin Burton, who three weeks ago supported the application, voted to refuse it yesterday. He said the council’s planning officers “have been trying to work with the applicant” who “won’t have to cancel any events even if we refuse.”

The marquee is a major income generator for a £2m conference extension Casa wants to build next year.