Cllr Ron Ravenhall (Lib Dem, Dunchurch and Knightlow), told the Rugby Advertiser: "It may sound mad to the world that we can turn down a very good plan for the sake of such a small creature, but I agree with the refusal."

The great Crested Newt is reported to be an amphibian "the size of a shoelace".

It appears experts at English Nature were behind the refusal, asking for a report to be carried out into the likelihood of Great Crested Newts being in the area.

Note the "likelihood". There seems to be no evidence there are Great Crested Newts in the area.

So why not carry out an investigation to see if there were any Red Pirhana in the canal? Or any Dodos in the area?

Surely it is time the environmentalists were taken to task?

OK, if there is evidence endangered species are present, investigate and report.

But to insist on a report on the "likelihood" is downright irresponsible.

But at least they didn't insist on a full Environmental Impact Assessment which, I understand, can cost anything up to £50k+.

Enough to make the developer go away and grow houses somewhere. On Green Belt land, perhaps, as Mr Prescott would like?

This is not the first time Cllr Ron Ravenhall has been involved in a planning dispute involving a marina.

Back in June 2003, he voted in favour of plans for a 200 berth marina on the Oxford Canal on Cathiron Lane.

The rest of the panning officers had voted against the plans because the marina would be built on Green Belt land.