LEGISLATION is needed to prevent small adjoining village cottages being knocked into one, a parish council believes.

And to highlight what it sees as a planning policy omission, it intends to lobby its MP for parliamentary action to retain stocks of small houses in villages.

Rudby Parish Council, which spent months producing a village design statement to enhance the village, decided to act after it received an application to convert two houses into one at 40 South Side.

While the council made no comments on that particular application, submitted by Mr S J Tideswell, it said it would look into the wider issues raised by such alterations.

During its discussion, it was said there are presently no guidelines or polices on such alterations. However, numerous controls exist on building design and safety.

Councillors felt guidelines should be extended in order to retain scarce, small houses in desirable villages. They said small properties were essential in Hutton Rudby, where there were plenty of large family homes.

They intend to ask Mr William Hague MP for Parliamentary debate and legislation.

Coun Irene MacDonald had spoken to a Hambleton Council planning officer about policy.

She said: "I feel this is wrong, in principle, and not a trend that should be encouraged. We are well aware that there is a shortage of small houses in Hutton Rudby and this would mean the loss of two. There are plenty of large properties, if people want them.

"If this trend became widespread, it would radically alter the whole nature of the village."

She reported that the planning officer said there were no guidelines on converting two properties into one.

Coun Bob Hutchinson also favoured action and Coun Doreen Medlock said: "Once this starts, other people will get the same idea."

However, Coun Wendy Deans said the outside appearance of the houses, at 39 and 40 South Side, would remain the same.

Coun MacDonald accepted this but said: "Planning officers are concerned with aesthetics - the appearance of buildings - but I think they should also look at the social aspects of a reduction in small housing stock.

"Maybe if we wrote to William Hague, he could try and do something about planning regulations? I think this is serious enough to take some action.

"There are a lot of issues around this. In addition to the loss of housing, it could also change the character of the conservation area."

Vice chairman Coun Judith Follows said: "I get very frustrated with planning regulations. Perhaps we could speak to William Hague and tell him about our concerns?"