A GAY couple who hoped to wed under new laws have been told by a council that they can’t tie the knot in its borough.

Adam Lott, 25, will legally be able to marry his partner of three years, Ian Haylock, 35, once the new Civil Partnership Act comes into force.

But Conservative Bromley council has turned down their application to hold the ceremony in the area where Adam, a project manager for Bromley Primary Care Trust, was born and has lived his whole life – although they will be able to register their partnership.

"Who would be happy with just signing a register? We want our special day just like everybody else," said Adam, a local campaigner for gay and bisexual rights.

"The council has made its decision without any local consultation. This is discriminatory against gay and lesbian people.

"I just want people to know I love Ian and he loves me. It’s an expression of our love for life – just like heterosexual marriages.

"This is the ‘big day’ for heterosexuals, why can’t it be for us?"

The new Civil Partnership Act comes into force on December 5, but there is a 15-day period before any ceremonies can take place.

Adam, who has two children from a previous relationship, and Ian will now be forced to marry elsewhere and have decided to wait until Spring 2006.

"I would rather go to a place where I can freely and openly marry without fear of prejudice," said Adam. "Being a gay couple is not viewed by many as normal. This is our opportunity to have people recognise that this, like many gay relationships, is real.

"It’s shocking that Bromley has taken this stance. It’s as though they think no gay and lesbian people live here."

The couple’s message to Bromley council is: "You have time to correct this before December 21 for the well-being of gay and bisexual people living in the borough, and for the overall profile of Bromley as a place for gay and bisexual people to live."

Ben Summerskill, chief executive of Stonewall, the campaign group for gay equality, said: "Bromley council is exposing itself to a legal challenge under the Human Rights Act which seems a huge waste of money.

"I hope they will take a more considered view of their legal position in the very near future."

He added: "If Bromley council thinks there is no demand for gay marriages they should get out more. It’s deeply sad."

BROMLEY’S level of interest in the new law is in stark contrast to other UK boroughs, such as Brighton and Hove, where more than 260 gay and lesbian couples have pledged their intention to wed when it changes.

A spokesperson for Bromley council said: "A decision made at a leisure and culture portfolio holder meeting in March 2005 means that, from December 5, 2005, Bromley council will offer partnership registrations but not partnership ceremonies.

"The leisure and culture meeting noted that, since January 2005, five enquiries regarding partnership ceremonies had been received by the register office.

"As a result of this, a view was taken that interest in partnership ceremonies was unlikely to be significant.

"However, the situation remains under continual review and is due to be considered again, in January 2006.

"In the meantime, Bromley residents will have the option of registration only in Bromley, or having a ceremony and registration combined in an adjoining district or elsewhere."