PLANS to raise the height of an ancient doorway in a listed building have been approved.
Damerham Parish Council said the first floor door was near a staircase at Willow Cottage and could hinder anyone trying to flee the property in a fire.
But an application to increase its height ran into opposition at a meeting of New Forest District Council.
Conservation officers said the door was the only original feature in the cottage, a Grade II listed building dating from the middle of the 19th century.
Members who supported the application included Cllr Maureen Holding, who said: “The door is not practical for modern living.”
Referring to the proposed alteration she added: “Noone is going to see it apart from the people who live there.”
But the head of development control, Chris Elliott, warned: “Don’t go down the road of you can’t see it so it doesn’t matter.
That’s the wrong approach.”
However, the application was eventually approved by an overwhelming majority
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