Controversial plans to build polo pitches at the end of a quiet country lane in Marlow have been approved after an "incredibly painful" three year battle.

The project at Low Grounds Farm on Harleyford Lane was thrown out by Wycombe District Council last year after fears the extra traffic would be "intimidating" to users of the lane, which is popular with ramblers.

But after a lengthy appeal process, a government planning inspector has overturned the decision, saying public fears are unjustified.

Rob Marsh, MD of landowners Harleyford Properties, told the MFP: "It has taken about three years, at the end of the day the case officer was in support, transport was in support, highways was in support.

"The people who objected didn’t understand how it will work. All in all the planning process has been incredibly painful.

"I’m not going to say it will be started immediately, but it will add another income source to the farm and will help it diversify, it’s definitely good news."

Mr Marsh and Harleyford Properties have been trying for over three years to get permission for the practice pitches, which it says will not inconvenience public use of the restricted byway.

But the plans met with fierce resistance from residents, ramblers, runner and societies lobbying for the protection of pedestrians’ right of way on the narrow route off Henley Road.

A revised application reduced the number of vehicles by stabling horses at the site during the summer polo season and stopping traffic associated with the nearby golf course.

But despite addressing the traffic issues, councillors on Wycombe District Council’s Planning Committee narrowly voted last March to turn down the project on the grounds of public safety.

They argued walkers and joggers could be intimidated by large horse-boxes on the single track road and that the plans would be detrimental to the public’s enjoyment of the lane.

Cllr Jean Teesdale called the spot "an accident waiting to happen".

But in his summary, government-appointed inspector Michael Moffoot said: "Even a ‘worst case’ scenario of 8 trips each match day would not, in my view, result in conflict between vehicles and non-vehicular users of the lane to the extent that the latters’ safety, convenience and amenity would be materially harmed."

Mr Marsh has called the project a "win-win" for residents, saying far more traffic would be generated if the site was instead converted for intensive farming.

Objectors now have no grounds left on which to appeal the decision.