YDNPA – planning decisions June 2011
There were no ARC committee members at the YDNPA planning committee meeting on Tuesday, June 14, but here is a short report. This is based upon the officers’ reports.
Barden Fell: The Trustees of the Chatsworth Settlement had applied for full planning permission to upgrade a moorland track and create a new one running alongside a dry stone wall to link with two existing tracks on Barden Fell between Wharfedale and W Nidderdale. This was to provide vehicular access to manage livestock and to carry out moorland management and gamekeeping activities. The tracks would be used by four-wheeled vehicles and tractors. It was argued that the benefit of the work carried out would outweigh the negative impact upon this SAC (Special Area of Conservation) and SSSI. Natural England, however objected on the basis that 0.3 hectares of dry dwarf shrub heath habitat would be lost, and some more damaged. The trustees had suggested ways to mitigate this. The planning committee decided to defer making a decision.
Chapel le Dale: The committee also deferred making a decision on the application from the Cam Woodland Trust to upgrade a section of an existing track and create a transhipping area for the storage and loading of timber at the entrance of Far Gearstones Farm, Chapel le Dale. This would be a temporary measure for 12 months to bring out windblown timber from Cam Wood, where the Sitka Spruce planted in 1968 and 1969 is now fully mature. The Trust has the right to use the Cam High Road as it owns land adjacent to it, but the timber would be taken along this ancient road by tractor and trailer.
Hawes: The committee confirmed its decision at the May meeting to give retrospective planning permission for the air source heating unit at Steppe Haugh in Hawes (see the May report).
Ribblehead : The committee agreed that enforcement action should be taken to secure the removal of an unauthorised shelter at the Station Inn, Ribblehead. The owner has denied that it was a “smoking shed” but was for those sheltering from the elements while waiting for busses and trains. Both the planning and enforcement officers reported that the shelter had an unacceptable impact upon a simple, traditional building.