A GROUP dedicated to fighting a five-fold tax increase on second homes in the Yorkshire Dales has asked the Environment Secretary Michael Gove to intervene.

The Dales Home Owners Action Group (DHOAG) has written to Mr Gove accusing the national park authority of “trying to exert political influence” with its proposed large hike in council tax and exceeding its remit in encouraging local councils to push for the rise.

The group, made up of second home owners from North Yorkshire and locations across the UK, is calling on the Secretary of State to consider if the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority had “exceeded its primary purpose under the 1995 Environment Act”.

But in an open letter to second home owners, authority chairman Carl Lis, said he acknowledged the "hurt" the proposal has caused, while stressing the "fact that we cannot shy away from, no matter how uncomfortable: too many second homes are bad for local communities".

He went on: “I have heard the objection that this is ‘social engineering’. But as Craven District Council Leader, Richard Foster, has said, cutting a local bus service is social engineering.

“Shutting a school is social engineering. Leaving a village centre home empty for much of the year is social engineering.”

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority backed the measure last month, saying it was to try to "halt and then reverse" the decline in the number of working people in the region.

It is now consulting with the eight local authorities which form parts of the national park with a view to putting a proposal for a pilot scheme to the Government.

Richmondshire Council will be first to vote next month.

DHOAG has claimed an estimated 3.4 million second home owners across Britain could eventually be affected.

The group pointed out that Alf Wight lived in Thirsk, outside the national park, but bought a second home in Coverdale after the success of his books and the subsequent TV series.

A spokesman said: "The council leaders behind this hare-brained scheme should consider the long-term consequences of their ill-informed comments in promoting an idea that they know is destined to fail.

"They are making sweeping statements without the benefit of any proper financial impact assessment; causing untold reputational damage to the park, causing unnecessary stress and in the process talking down the local housing market.

"It's only a few decades ago that Welsh extremists were burning down English holiday cottages in North Wales. That was fuelled by prejudice."

In his open letter to second home owners, Mr Lis said: "It has never been in doubt that you love the Yorkshire Dales and want the best for the community in which you have your second home. Many of you have deep roots here, and contribute to the local economy when you are here.

"It is also true that the high proportion of second homes in the national park is only one of the factors contributing to the decline of some of our towns and villages.

"However, there is one further fact that we cannot shy away from, no matter how uncomfortable: too many second homes are bad for local communities."

Mr Lis said: "People have asked why the National Park Authority is getting involved in this issue. The answer is simple: the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the Park cannot be effectively conserved and enhanced without strong, viable local communities."