A man has been refused permission for a hydrotherapy suite in a self contained annexe near his home which he says he needs for medical reasons.

A previous planning application for a hydrotherapy suite with a bungalow was withdrawn a few weeks before the latest one.

Mr Edwards wrote to planners saying he needed the annexe near his home at The Cotesfor assisted living requirements to “enable his daughter and her family to provide round the clock care for him without having to call outside care or travel an inappropriate distance to get to him in an emergency.”

He submitted medical information outlining his condition including a letter from his GP and another from Addenbrooke’s Hospital.

Further information was submitted to explain why using his existing home was insufficient to cater for his deteriorating health demands.

“The door openings were not wide enough for wheelchair access, there was no flush entrance threshold, kitchen furniture and worktops were insufficient strength within the existing structure to support the hoists and associated tracks which would be needed by the applicant as his health continued to deteriorate.

“The information concluded that a complete makeover of the existing property would not be financially feasible.”

Councillors, however, said they could not understand why the annexe was not joined to his existing home and refused permission following a vote.

In a show of hands six councillors voted to refuse the scheme while three said it should be given the go ahead.

Soham Town councillors said it should only be approved as a “personal applciation which will expire when applicant dies or moves.”

They said Mr Edwards, had failed to demonstrate the need for a separate unit of accommodation and felt that the detached nature of it was likely to result in additional traffic along The Cotes which would have an impact on highway safety.

The plan was also outside the Soham development boundary.