A furious farmer claims fumbling council officers have forced him to leave fields fallow in a planning row that stretches over a decade and left him fighting an injunction.

Steve Dansey, 53, who runs Butterfly Meadow farm at Wraik Hill and Dargate, has fought since 2002 to get permission for buildings to process fruit and meat in.

The grandfather-of-two, who has 4,000 pear trees and 800 plum trees as well as livestock on his farm, says he spent over £30,000 in legal fees in a complex planning row which started over a 6’ by 4’ chicken shed.

He has since gone to the Ombudsman, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, lawyers and mediation in a bid to resolve the protracted row.

"i wouldn’t mind but i am trying to farm, not change the use or diversify" – farmer steve dansey

This week said he had “been brought to my knees” by the latest instalment of the battle – which has seen the council go to Queen’s Council to challenge his application.

He said: “I wouldn’t mind but I am trying to farm, not change the use or diversify. I am now 53; I should have a good business running by now and enjoying the fruits of my labours.

The council’s planning department even now even now have not told me (the detail of) why the last application failed and this is 20 months on.

“I’m gutted, I have been brought financially to my knees and I have had to virtually stop my farming business – we have had to stop attending Whitstable farmers market of which we were one of the original traders.”

Mr Dansey, whose “fruit leather” products were commended at the Taste of Kent awards in 2009, had been processing the product in his home after being unable to develop facilities to do so.

Louise Reid, deputy head of service development management, Canterbury City Council, said: “Canterbury City Council have requested to meet with Mr Dansey with regard to a number of outstanding planning matters relating to Butterfly Farm, Wraik Hill.

The planning team have been working with Mr Dansey with a view to resolving his outstanding planning issues for some time.”