A BUSINESSMAN flew 5,300 miles to speak in support of a planning application -- only to be gagged by "petty bureaucrats" for not submitting his request correctly.

Stunned Shaun Browne, vice-president of Battlefield Sports, today told of his disbelief at the actions of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's planning committee and said he had never encountered anything like it in the 20 countries in which the company operated.

Mr Browne travelled from his head office in Los Angeles, California, to speak for 90 seconds in support of his company's application to set up a laser skirmish game on Cranberry Moor, Darwen.

But when councillors pressed ahead to reject the application without asking him to speak, Mr Brown said: "Excuse me, I was to speak on this item".

Coun James Smith, head of the planning committee, told him: "You gave your name, but you did not request to speak. I am sorry but you cannot speak."

The atmosphere in the Blackburn town hall meeting room became heated as Mr Browne pointed out that he had flown from LA just to speak.

Coun Smith told him: "That's not the way it works in Blackburn", which prompted an associate of Mr Browne to retort: "That's why your town is such a shambles".

The councillors then pressed on ahead with the unanimous vote to reject the planning application, prompting Mr Browne and his colleagues to leave the room in disgust

As they left, one of his associates pointed at Coun Smith and said: "You'll answer for this!".

There are strict rules about speaking at planning meetings.

Anyone wishing to take up a three minute slot must let the council know before the meeting.

Mr Browne today claimed he had told the council that he wanted to share the three minute slot with an associate.

Reflecting on falling foul of the "petty" council bureaucracy he said: "I was just stunned, absolutely stunned. I was in disbelief at how these public officials weren't interested in hearing the other side.

"It seems like the meeting was a foregone conclusion.

"I had some of the laser guns in my car -- I should have shot them all!

"I was angry and probably spoke out of turn but I was just stunned that I had spent all the time travelling for nothing.

"We have a revenue of 15 to 20 million a year and we've won awards. Our corporate clients include Microsoft, IBM and American Express. We operate in 22 countries and this was a completely unique experience."

Coun Smith said: "It is council policy that applications to speak must be submitted before 12 on the day of the planning meeting. If he had done this there would have been no problem with him speaking.

"He turned up at the meeting and asked if he could sit with the speaker supporting the plans which was fine but he did not ask to speak. When the speaker finished speaking and sat down, Mr Browne stood up and expected to be able to speak.

"He said he had come all the way from America but I pointed out it was against council policy. I said the same to a Blackburn man the month before. He was very rude in the end and stormed out."

Mr Browne, originally from Leigh, set up Battlefield Sports in 1999 in Australia.

The company has since grown to serve over one million customers a year at 92 sites around the world, with most located in America and Australia.

Mr Browne said he was disappointed the application had been turned down and added: "The council has missed a big opportunity.

"In a couple of years we will have 10 to 12 sites around the North West. "

The application was turned down because of increased traffic and noise levels from people using the site, an unsuitable access point and interference with the public's right to air and exercise on the common land.

Other reasons cited included the disturbance of a Biological Heritage Site, insufficient information from the applicants and it being contrary to several council policies.