PLANNING committee councillors are today standing by their decision to refuse permission for the Grade II listed derelict farm from the site of the Ryder cup.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Carmel Townsend said she didn’t think the decision would affect future investment in Newport: “It’s a stupid thing to say.”

Ron Jones, Labour councillor for Pill, said “Of course we know what the bigger picture was,” he said. “We were fully aware of that, but it was a planning application about a listed building. That was the issue in front of us.”

Labour councillor John Ringland, who represents the voters of Lliswerry, said Sir Terry was obviously disappointed with the decision but it was taken democratically in light of opposition from several of the bodies which gave representations to Newport planning.

He said Sir Terry's comments were those of "somebody that is throwing their toys out of the pram."

Chairman of the committee conservative councillor Richard White, who represents the Marshfield area, voted for the listed building consent to go ahead.

He said he sincerely hoped the decision would not affect Sir Terry's relationship with Newport.

He said that members were not trying to make a statement on Newport as a place for investment.

“That was furthest from the mind of members of the committee,” he said.

He said the decision had support of members of different parties and was not taken for ideological reasons.

Councillors Val Dudley, Ron Jones, Bob poole, John Richards, Martyn Kellaway, John Fortey, Val Delahye and Carmel Townsend all voted against the proposals.Only committee chairman Richard White and Les Knight supported it. Malcolm Linton was absent.