Legoland's haunted house proposal refused planning permission

In a surprise move last night, councillors on the Royal Borough's Windsor urban development control panel ignored their officers' advice and refused permission to let it go ahead.

Sue Kemp, Legoland's divisional director, said she was disappointed and felt the success of recent traffic trials designed to ease congestion caused by the theme park's visitors had been ignored.

Earlier in the meeting Cllr Simon Meadowcroft (Con, Clewer South) said he feared the traffic trials had merely reshuffled cars onto different roads.

He could not accept that the haunted house would not add to the traffic, and said: "I'm tempted to think this is the point where we have reached a threshold."

Cllr Phill Bicknell (Con, Park) received unanimous support when he proposed permission be refused.

He said: "We are at a point where something has got to give."

The meeting took place at Windsor Guildhall.