Sir, - I was astonished to read (D&S, Dec 13) that the Yorkshire Dales National Park planning committee had narrowly reversed their previous decision, which had been in favour by 17 to 3, to grant planning permission to James Spensley.

He had applied for permission to convert a barn into a residence for his daughter, her partner and their three small children - which would be rented to them in perpetuity.

The Yorkshire Dales local plan, issued in September 96, makes recommendations of policy, but each case is allowed to be decided on its merits. Members are expected to give due weight to the legitimate needs of local people. Its seems anomalous that an official, acting in an advisory capacity, is able to swing nominated and elected committee members to such an extent.

I have lived in the dales and known members of the families concerned for 55 years. They have served me, my family and the local community well, and it appals me that their planning application has been refused.

My only hope is that an appeal is made to the Secretary of State for the Department of Environmental Food and Rural Affairs and that commonsense will prevail.

Dr K M D COLTMAN

Galloway Rise,

West Burton,

Leyburn.

Make a stand

Sir, - Seven years ago I wrote a letter to the D&S asking residents of the Yorkshire Dales National Park to stand up and be counted or they would be ruled by park officials and have no say in their future as to the sort of community they wanted to live in or how they earned a living.

For a few years things seemed to be improving as officers appeared to show commonsense, be it on a limited scale.

With the appointment of David Butterworth as chief executive I thought at last we had someone worthy of the post who had a mind of his own and would steer the committee in a positive way forward.

The planning committee meeting of the December 10 has shown how far backwards they have stepped with the decision to refuse a local couple permission to convert a barn to a home for five people.

It would be interesting to know how and why a 17-3 majority at the first meeting became a slightly smaller majority at a second meeting and then, at a third meeting, the voting was 10-10. Surely, once a planning application is passed that should suffice.

I would also like to know if the national park is acting legally by often using the controversial reference back system when officers' recommendations are disregarded by the planning committee. Answers please.

I was very pleased to hear John Blackie express his strong concern at the decision. Where is the commonsense in trying to force local residents - young people at that - to leave their roots and move away.

The time must have arrived where residents of the national parks should have more say in their destiny and not have decisions made for them by people some of whom travel up to 200 miles to attend meetings.

I am asking again for the residents of the park to stand up and be counted whilst you still can. There is an organisation which I helped to create seven years ago called the Association of Rural Communities (ARC) which is still going strong and attends all national park meetings. Please contact me if you are interested.

TOM KNOWLES

12 Sycamore Close,

Spennithorne,

Leyburn.

A special case

Sir, - It is sad that the Local Plan of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority provides no housing priority for local young people.

In our small village two thirds of the houses are holiday/second homes. Six new houses have been built in the last decade of which only two were constructed by a local builder and none are occupied permanently.

The park authority's decision to refuse a young local man permission to convert a barn into a family home is contrary to their avowed concern for the provision of affordable housing.

All who are privileged to live in the national park wish to see it preserved but equally we hope to see those living and working here given special consideration.

Unless some way is found to do this the youth will drift away and we will be left with a beautiful holiday park bereft of the vital infrastructure of an indigenous working population.

MALCOLM & LORNA PARKER

Barn End,

Sedbusk,

Hawes.

Park indifference

Sir, - What madcap authority can justify permitting 52 families to stay in a holiday cottage for one week each per year, but refuse one family from staying in the same premises for the identical period (D&S, Dec 13)?

The planning officials of the Yorkshire Dales National Park who ultimately got their way over Cams House, Askrigg, have shown indifference to local needs for many years. The craven acceptance of this continued folly by members of the park authority is shameful. They should hang their heads.

JACQUELINE WELLS

Ivy Dene,

East Witton,

Nr Leyburn.

A prededent

Sir, - I'm sure no-one could fail to sympathise with the couple whose rejected planning application for a barn conversion at Askrigg was reported last week (D&S, Dec 13) or fail to be concerned at the underlying problem of lack of affordable housing in the area.

However, I have no time for vote-hungry councillors who resort to ludicrously emotive language. Nor do I have time for their unwarranted attacks on national park members and officers who are trying to do the impossible job of keeping all competing interests happy while maintaining the character of the Dales which brings much needed income to the area.

As I understand it, the planning application would have breached a long-established policy designed to avoid inappropriate development. As anyone with any sense knows, if one such application were approved there would very quickly be a queue of people with similar applications which would be difficult to refuse because of the precedent established.

What councillors should be doing is trying to get houses built for letting at affordable rents by either housing associations or by the local authority itself.

One of the main causes of the housing shortage is the large and increasing number of dwellings being bought by residents and non-residents alike for holiday letting at very high rents.

There are local businesses who make a lot of money acting as letting agents for such property and I am told that at least one local councillor runs such a business. Still, it's an ill wind...

PETER ATKINSON

Park House,

Keld,

Richmond.

Brand loyalty

Sir, - I share Mr Nicholson's disgust at the litter on our verges (D&S letters, Dec 13) and would add disposable nappies to his list of offensive items!

However, the big question for me is: who is the phantom Black Label drinker of Clack Lane? Whoever it is, he/she is remarkably loyal to the brand. Any answers to this mystery would be gratefully received.

J WHITTON

Green Croft,

Clack Lane Ends,

Osmotherley