A NORTH YORKSHIRE horse owner has condemned as "petty" a council decision forcing her to pull down hay sheds and rabbit hutches in her garden.

Mandy Dziemianko claims that without the three sheds and hutches she will have nowhere to keep her chickens or hay for her horses.

Ryedale District Council planners last night voted to serve a notice on Mrs Dziemianko because of what were said to be planning breaches at her property at Otterburns Holding, at Gate Helmsley.

"I can't understand why they are spending so much time and money on this," she said.

"We put the sheds up because I was losing hay in the wet weather because it was unprotected.

"We put the sheds right up against a back wall so that it wouldn't be in the way of our neighbours.

"No one in the village has objected to us having them up so I just can't see what the problem is."

But members of the council's central area planning committee decided that because the property formed part of the York Green Belt, the structures must be removed.

A council report claims a planning breach occurred in February last year because Mrs Dziemianko, who works as a physiotherapist, had not gained planning permission.

Planning officer Paul Simpson told members last night he was concerned about the breach.

"The legal use at this site is for agriculture, not equestrian use," he said.

"It has become somewhat of a mess within the local landscape, therefore we feel it should be removed."

A report presented to members said policy supported horse-based developments, provided they did not "adversely impact on the open character of the area".

It said: "The buildings themselves are of poor, dubious design."

Councillors voted to give the owner one month to remove the sheds, rabbit hutches, chicken run and an exercise area for her horses.

But Mrs Dziemianko says she is adamant she should be allowed to keep the offending structures.

"I am going to submit a planning application for this," she said.

"And if that doesn't get through then I will appeal."

Updated: 11:57 Wednesday, January 16, 2002