TOBY Balding is taking his dream move to a state of the art yard to appeal.
The Hampshire trainer, still incensed by the planners' decision, will argue his case in front of a Government inspector in August.
He wants his present yard at Fyfield to be demolished to make way for local housing which would finance a move a few hundred yards away to train at Kimpton.
TOBY Balding, thwarted over his dream move to a state-of-the-art yard, is taking the matter to appeal.
The Hampshire trainer, still incensed by the planners' decision, will argue his case in front of a government inspector in August.
He wants his present yard at Fyfield to be demolished to make way for local housing, which would finance a move a few hundred yards away to a training base at Kimpton.
But, surprisingly, Test Valley's area planning committee rejected the advice of the planning officer in March and threw out his plan.
Balding was naturally furious with the decision, which has put on hold his cherished hopes of operating from a £1.2m complex with 72 boxes, staff accommodation and other facilities.
He recognises the move is virtually the only way he can start competing with the up-market yards of Martin Pipe and Nicky Henderson and would be a top-class base he could pass onto his assistant, Jonathan Geake, when he takes over the licence.
Balding, who has planning approval to set up at Kimpton, had been hoping to make the switch next month.
He maintains the go-ahead can only benefit the local community and what particularly irks him is that most of the committee had not even made a site inspection.
"It would certainly not be a detriment to the village,'' said Balding. "Most of the reasons given for turning the application down were spurious. I would certainly not be taking the case to appeal if I didn't think there was a chance of winning.''
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