Pip’s Patch

AYSGARTH AND DISTRICT. – At the May meeting the parish councillors told the chief planning officer of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Peter Watson,  that they wanted to be involved in protecting the beauty of the area and to be kept well informed of any planning applications, including those which have been amended.

“There are some plans which have been changed and got through planning that we knew nothing about,” said Coun Robert Walker. And Coun Alison Sayer told Mr Watson:“We are trying to work with you (but) we need to see plans and we need to see what is going on. Lots of the older generation looked after this area before it became a National Park – we want our beautiful area to stay as it is.”

There was a lengthy discussion about various planning issues and what the parish councillors saw as lack of communication or action by the YDNPA planning and enforcement officers. These included the problems with the  new semi detached houses in the Outgang in Thornton Rust and South View at Thoralby.

For fuller details about the discussion see Planning issues in Wensleydale.

Outgang houses. – A retrospective planning application for those will be discussed at the YDNPA’s planning committee meeting on Tuesday, June 8.  As new amended plans were expected the parish council clerk asked if they would have time to comment on these should they be delivered to the Authority just before the meeting. Mr Watson said the parish council would see them as soon as the National Park did.

He and County Coun John Blackie said that the planning committee was determined to make a decision on June 8 and that would be made on the latest plans received. “There will be no further extensions,” said Coun Blackie.

Coun Brian McGregor commented: “If you don’t take a stand on this one you are just wasting your time – your time and our time. This has caused us an awful lot of hassle. We are voluntary workers – we shouldn’t have this much hassle.”

South View. – The councillors were very concerned about the drainage holes in the wall at South View even though the enforcement officer had informed them that the treatment of foul water and surface water there complied with the approved plans. They warned that the drainage holes could lead to flooding along the street in Thoralby.

Even though the parish council had requested the retention of the hedge at South View they had then been informed that the landscaping plan agreed by the YDNPA did not include this.

South View was described as an eyesore due to the stone used in its construction. The councillors asked why the parish council had not been consulted when the stone was being selected. Coun Blackie said that parish council’s should be consulted as that for Hawes had been concerning the affordable housing development there.

Enforcement. – Mr Watson said the Authority did not have sufficient staff to monitor all stages of the construction of buildings in the National Park so had to rely partly on building control officers and reports from the public.

It was pointed out that the parish council had informed the YDNPA when the foundations for the houses in the Outgang had been laid in the wrong place but no action had been taken. Mr Watson replied  that the enforcement department had been improved recently and action was being taken far more quickly.

Barn repairs. – Mr Watson told the meeting that planning consent was not required for a barn to be repaired as previously built. They could also be demolished without consent if not in a conservation area.  He said that renewable energy projects were currently being approved if they were small scale developments. The parish council thanked him, County Coun John Blackie and Dt Coun Yvonne Peacock for attending the meeting.

Annual meeting. – During the meeting Coun Brian McGregor was re-elected as chairman, and Coun Penny Noake as vice chairman.

It was reported that the parish council had received £300 from Coun Blackie’s allocation from the county council’s area committee and this had been used to part fund the notice board at Newbiggin.

As the reserves for Aysgarth cemetery had fallen below £1,000 it was agreed to contribute £500 with the rest being covered by Burton cum Walden and Carperby cum Thoresby parish councils. It was decided to affiliate with Richmondshire Sports Council as the fees go towards the cost of training young people in the area.

Aysgarth. – The manager of Aysgarth Water Treatment Works had reported that the investigations carried out in December 2009 had shown that any water flooding on to the Thornton Rust road was not from the treatment works or any associated pipework.

The YDNPA had confirmed that the saplings block the light from the solar light near the doctors’ surgery would be cut down.

Coun Windle reported that the vehicle activated sign at the west end of Aysgarth still did not recognise motor cycles. As this had been reported in September 2009 it was felt this should have been adjusted by now. This was particularly urgent as the summer influx of motor cyclists was beginning.

Housing plan. – There will be a public meeting at Yoredale, Bainbridge, at 7pm on Monday, July 5 when the YDNPA will introduce its draft housing development plan which includes affordable housing projects.

Next meeting. – Is at Thornton Rust institute at 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 30.