A LANDOWNER could be prosecuted after he failed to close a temporary access road to his farm.

Graeme Frankland inherited a planning enforcement notice when he bought West Underbanks Farm, near Richmond, last year, and he agreed to complete the outstanding work.

Officers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said the work has not been done, despite several reminders, and they want members to sanction a prosecution.

A report to the planning committee next week said the track and gateway off the A6108, west of Richmond, were created in 2003 when the previous owner gained planning permission for an agricultural building. The track was allowed temporarily to help building work.

The highways authority alerted national park officials that the access was still open in July 2004.

Planners said the track was too visible in the countryside and was dangerous because it leads onto a main road.

After an enforcement notice was served in October 2005, the access was blocked with a wire fence. Mr Frankland bought the property last spring and agreed to wall up the gap, but work was delayed by up to nine months because of a landslip.

He said he was eager to comply with the national park's requirements, but the access gap would be the last part to be built up, because it was the only safe place to tip deliveries of stone.

Enforcement officer Marion Brown said: "It is acknowledged that there have been extenuating circumstances associated with this site, and the owner has been allowed additional time to comply.

However, it is considered that sufficient and reasonable time has now passed, and formal prosecution proceedings for non-compliance should now be considered."

Mr Frankland told officers that he had completed thousands of pounds worth of restoration to the property, including dry-stone walls, and had planted hedges and 50 native trees.

He said a catalogue of disasters had delayed work since he bought the property, and said: "We have every intention of closing the entrance as part of our work in progress."