Top chef told to put a lid on expansion

Raymond Blanc has lost his battle to expand his famous Le Manoir Aux Quat' Saisons restaurant.

Mr Blanc had wanted to expand the hotel and restaurant in the Oxfordshire village of Great Milton to include a health spa and more bedrooms.

But the plans were rejected at a packed meeting of South Oxfordshire District Council's planning committee yesterday. Angry villagers objected the plans and about 70 wrote to the council to complain. Mr Blanc told the meeting that expansion was essential to keep his highly regarded restaurant at the top. He said he wanted to build more bedrooms, a larger kitchen and construct the spa alongside the restaurant in the village. When his ideas were rejected on the casting vote of committee chairman, Robin Peirce, the Frenchman left the meeting and refused to comment.