Pip’s Patch

ARC News Service:

Carlton in Coverdale – There were gasps of surprise at the YDNPA planning committee on Tuesday March 12 when members heard that villagers in Carlton in Coverdale had already received pledges amounting to £157,500 towards buying the Foresters Arms and turning it into a community pub. All of the villagers on the committee set up to take over the pub attended the planning meeting. Their representative, Peter Pearson, explained to the members why they did not want the YDNPA to approve a planning application from the owners that would allow part of the pub to be turned into two dwellings. They felt that for the pub to be viable it needed a restaurant and letting rooms. They also wanted the space so that they could in the future provide a village shop and be able to support youth and sports activities. When proposing that their request should be granted N Yorks County Coun Roger Harrison Topham said that the members  should make every effort to help the villagers in their efforts to retain their pub as it is at the moment.  Other members agreed that for a rural pub letting rooms were a vital part of the business, as well as the ability to provide evening meals. The majority, therefore, supported the villagers.

Little Stainforth – The majority of members accepted the planning officer’s argument that the impact of the 21 external lighting columns at Knight Stainforth Caravan Park was relatively low. As the lights were angled downwards they would not have a damaging effect in a dark, rural location. This was a retrospective planning application.

Site meetings at Gargrave and Hawes : Members agreed that there should be site meetings at Raybridge House in Raybridge Lane, Gargrave , and at Steppe Haugh, Town Head, in Hawes. At Raybridge House the owners want to erect a two storey extension. A planning officer recommended refusal because it was felt this would dominate the existing building and result in the loss of the traditional style frontage. There was some discussion about what was the original frontage of the building. The parish council supports the application. At Steppe Haugh an officer recommended refusing the retrospective planning application for the installation of an air source heat pump on the roof as it was felt it was causing significant harm to the visual and landscape amenity of the area. County Coun John Blackie did not take part in the debate about this at Hawes and High Abbotside Parish Council. The parish council strongly supported the application, and 17 residents had written to state they had no objection.

Kettlewell – The committee approved the 19 conditions to the planning permission for the development Scargill House at Kettlewell (see appendix B under Scargill House), and added one more:  that the three new houses to be built should be tied to the ancillary use of Scargill House as a Christian residential and educational centre. It was agreed that North Yorks County Council should be asked to impose a 20mph limit on the narrow stretches of road that lorries will use to access the site, especially as it is expected that the phased building work will take over four years to complete. It was also agreed that a small group of members should be available to mediate between residents and Scargill House over any traffic problems. William Weston felt that the Authority should always take a positive stance towards encouraging the use of sustainable energy sources and energy conservation.

Chelker Reservoir - It was agreed to support Craven District Council in its objection to the proposal by Yorkshire Water to replace the existing wind turbines at Chelker Reservoir with three new ones.  This was because the new ones will have a tip height of almost 40m more than the present ones. Among the views within the National Park that would be affected would be that painted by Turner of Bolton Abbey. Roger Bingham said they would be alien structures which would be as high as the Blackpool Tower. Coun Harrison Topham commented that even the present wind turbines were absolutely hideous. Not all the members were so convinced that the proposed new ones would be so visually intrusive but the majority upheld the planning officer’s recommendation.

Primrose Glen, Embsay – A planning officer reported that the dams at the Mill Ponds, Primrose Glen, Pasture Road, Embsay, were in a poor state of repair and so there was inadequate flow of water. The planning permission granted in 2005  for the development of the former tannery site had included bringing the dams into a watertight and structurally sound condition. It was agreed that as this had not been complied with the owners were asked to give a written undertaking to carry out the works within an agreed timescale within 28 days or an enforcement notice would be issued