A RACEHORSE trainer has won his fight to protect wildlife near Tadcaster.

Tom Tate objected to plans to use a woodland area in the grounds of Hazlewood Castle for outdoor training activities on the grounds that this would upset badgers.

Mr Tate, who lives next door to the castle, told Selby District Council's planning committee that there was a large badger sett right in the middle of the proposed training area, and another extensive sett nearby.

He said two large portable buildings had been moved on to the site.

Mr Tate said he also represented five families who lived nearby and they, too, had expressed concerns about the effect on the badgers.

George Sewell, representing the applicant, said the woodland activities involved mental and physical tasks aimed at team-building.

He said the Hazlewood Castle hotel supported the Holt business activity by providing accommodation and refreshments for course members.

He told the planning committee that using green belt land in this way helped to provide access to the open countryside for urban dwellers.

The new buildings were 100 metres away from the locally important nature conservation site and the activities would not have a detrimental effect on the site's ecology.

Mr Sewell said: "There would be no-go zones around the badger setts and bird and bat boxes would be installed."

Coun Chris Metcalfe said the buildings were not obtrusive and he could not see any reason to reject the application.

But Coun David Wilson said: "The issue here is badgers. Either we are concerned about nature conservation or we aren't.

"Badgers are a protected species and we should be doing our bit to protect them."

Coun Stephanie Duckett said: "Bird and bat boxes don't make up for the disturbance caused. I'm against it."

Members voted 8-5 to reject the application.

Mr Tate said later: "There are a lot of badgers in that wood and I'm delighted with the decision."

Updated: 15:23 Tuesday, October 22, 2002