THE futures of a disabled man and a young family are secure after national park members yesterday approved their planning applications for a second time.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority officers recommended rejection of the two schemes because they conflicted with policy drawn up to protect the countryside.

But planning committee members agreed that a specially-adapted house could be built by Vincent Gordon, a cerebral palsy sufferer, in the grounds of his parents' home at Riverside Cottage, Appersett, upper Wensleydale.

They also gave the go-ahead to expansion of a mountain bike business at Fremington, in Swaledale, despite opposition from some residents.

Both applications were approved by the committee in November but were re-examined because that decision went against officers' recommendations.

At yesterday's meeting at Bainbridge, in Wensleydale, members agreed that 21-year-old Mr Gordon's personal circumstances outweighed planning policy.

The adapted house would allow him to live independently in the village where he has lived all his life and runs a pressure washing business.

The committee approved by eight votes to six an application from Dales Mountain Biking, at Fremington, for a business including cycle hire and repair and a café.

Supporters said it allowed Stuart and Brenda Price and their two children to remain in the dale.

Objectors agreed with officers that a proposed new building was too large for the site.

They accused the committee of taking too many decisions against officers' advice.

One bjector, who did not want to be named, said planning policy should be adhered to.

She said: "The Yorkshire Dales has the unenviable position of approving more planning applications contrary to the local plan over the last two years than all the other English national parks combined."

The Yorkshire Dales national park authority approved 17 applications against officers' recommendations in the past two years, compared to 15 from the other combined seven English national parks.