A TOURIST attraction in the Yorkshire Dales, which was fighting for survival earlier this year, is planning to expand in 2001.

The Forbidden Corner, on the edge of Middleham, has enjoyed a steady stream of visitors since it opened to the public in 1997.

But it did so without the permission of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and has incurred the wrath of the region's planners.

When the owner, Colin Armstrong, applied for retrospective consent to continue operating, he was refused on the grounds that the business was not suited to the area.

National Park officials said there had been complaints from neighbours, and access roads to the site were unsuitable.

An appeal followed and, after a hearing last June, Mr Armstrong was informed he had won - but, several months on, there is still some residual anger.

Agent Malcolm Tempest said: "It's fair to say we are now looking forward, but the whole affair was so unnecessary.

"Of course, the responsibility of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is to protect the countryside.

"However, it also has a responsibility towards the economic well-being of the business community in the area.

"If there is a lesson to be learned from the whole affair, it should be that it needs to take that more seriously.''

Mr Tempest said the Forbidden Corner would be staying open, and had plans for more attractions within the next 12 months.

"We, too, have obligations and have our work cut out next year. We must now improve the access road to the gardens and we have a new car park to build.

"Income permitting, we are hoping to do more with the attractions.

"We have devious minds working on new twists and turns in the tunnels of The Cat and Mouse and hope to add to the underground passages - but we don't want to give away the surprises.

"Anyone who wants to know more will have to come and visit,'' he said.