Appropriate enforcement
The YDNPA’s planning committee was told by an enforcement officer at its meeting on February 2022: ‘Breaches of planning control impact adversely on the ability of the Authority to maintain public confidence in planning system.’
The importance of consistent and appropriate enforcement was again emphasised at the planning committee meeting in May 2022.
A prime example is the Aysgarth Lodge Holidays site at Westholme between Aysgarth and West Burton. The light emanating from those lodges at night is considerably more than from any village in the Dales. That is because the conditions on the planning approval in 2008 were not enforced. Many lodges are facing directly across Bishopdale and are not sufficiently screened by hedges and trees, contrary to the plan approved by the YDNPA. A planning officer was careful not to show that view of the site at the planning meeting in March 2023.
Local Democracy
The objectives of the Association of Rural Communities have always included the need for local democracy and representation.
When, in 2009, local newspapers stopped sending reporters to YDNPA meetings the Association of Rural Communities was very concerned at the lack of independent reporting especially as the YDNPA has such a major impact upon those living and working in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
It is very encouraged that there is now a Local Democracy Reporter (Stuart Minting) reporting on YDNPA meetings. Pip Pointon continues to post reports, on a voluntary basis, so as to continue as full a record as possible, especially of planning committee meetings, as part of the Association’s commitment to local democracy.
The Association’s chairman, Alastair Dinsdale, has highlighted the importance of farmers to the beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.
Also see the report of the Full Authority discussion : planning committee -review and impartiality.
YDNPA planning committee reports:
January 2024 – I was unable to attend that meeting but Stuart Minting did file a report about how the planning committee reversed its decisions on two barn conversions. That means a farmer wont be able to live on his farm near West Burton.
And: YDNPA, Aysgarth Falls Hotel and river pollution
January 2023 – Pip was unable to attend this meeting. There are two reports available online: altered plans for Sedbegh housing development
and the proposal for a camping barn near near Muker
December 2018 – the cost of the boundary extension
December 2018 – Barns and Yurts
YDNPA and the conversion of traditional barns
Tup Gill Lathe appeal decision
March 2015 – telecommunications aerials at West Witton
Inconsistencies and gobbledygook revisited
YDNPA – inconsistencies and gobbledygook – more from the October 2012 planning committee meeting
YDNPA Planning Committee 2010 (pdf)
Bishopdale 2010 – a question of consistency
Full Authority Meetings:
Full Authority September 2019 – two reports: YDNPA and John Blackie and YDNPA and farming in the Dales
Full Authority March 2019: there were two reports posted on the Richmondshire Today website written by the Local Democracy reporter – one concerning the approved plan for new local occupancy housing behind the Rose and Crown and the other regarding whether the YDNPA should go paperless or not.