PLANNING chiefs have slammed the door on one man's bid to have his own garage.

John Biggs, 40, wants rules relaxed so he can add a door to the 'car port' under an extension to his house.

But Weymouth and Portland Borough Council officers said it would obstruct the highway and Mr Biggs' garage would not meet the minimum size for a parking space.

At a meeting of the planning and traffic policy and scrutiny board, they said that his Renault Clio would be a tight squeeze, and an average-sized car would fit in the garage with only five centimetres to spare.

They also feared that future occupants of his house with a large car would be forced to park elsewhere.

Officers warned this would open the floodgates for smaller parking space applications if it got the go-ahead.

After a five-five hung, vote chairman Councillor Margaret Leicester used her casting vote to refuse permission.

But after the meeting, John and his father Jack, both unsuccessful candidates at the recent borough council elections, accused councillors of political bias.

They say two board members, who had been Jack's opponents at past elections, neglected to declare an interest in the proceedings and claimed this coloured the final decision.

Mr Biggs, who stood as the Conservative candidate for Weymouth West, lives in South Road, Wyke Regis, with his wife and three children.

He said: "I am absolutely livid about this. Without a garage door, I am a target for thieves and my neighbours are sick of looking at a hole in the wall.

"The Clio is a small car and has 18 inches to spare.

"If I can't have a door, I will be forced to put up six-foot-tall gates to protect my property.

"I will not stand again for election, because I don't want to be involved with this council."

His father Jack, 60, an Independent hopeful who was previously involved in local government in the 80s, said: "We will send an appeal to the Planning Ombudsman, appeal to the planning inspectorate and also appeal under the Human Rights Act.

"It's a set up - I can't believe we have got so much hassle for the sake of a garage door."

But Mrs Leicester dismissed their claims as "ridiculous" and said: "The car port is shaped like a wedge of cheese and would not fit a Mini or a Clio.

"The space simply does not comply with the area planning requirements for a garage."