Forest Green Rovers chairman Dale Vince has described the decision to refuse planning permisison for the club's new stadium as 'farcical'.

Stroud District Council's development control committee backed a proposal to refuse the plans by seven to four with no abstentions after a four hour meeting at Ebley Mill last night.

In a video posted on his Facebook page the Ecotricity boss said he was dissapointed and surprised at the decision, adding it was 'a little bit farcical at the end'.

Mr Vince was referring to the short break taken by councillors after voting not to approve the plans and before voting to refuse them.

Those councillors who voted against permission conversed with the planning officer to build a case for refusal.

Mr Vince describing the scheme as a ‘visionary project which would have been great for Stroud and for the football club.’ He blamed a 'lack of big picture mentality' for the decision.

When questioned if he planned to appeal he said: "I don't know if we'll bother."

He added there were other options for the land including building houses. 

Forest Green Rovers have Tweeted: "Everyone at the club is extremely disappointed by the decision made by Stroud District Council last night to refuse planning permission for Eco Park."

The application for Eco Park, on fields off junction 13 of the M5, had been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The plans – submitted by Mr Vince's energy firm, Ecotricity – include a 5,000-seater stadium designed by world-renowned architects Zaha Hadid.

Also included were a club shop, food and drink facilities, a fitness suite for FGR, two training pitches and 1,700 parking spaces for cars, coaches and bicycles.