FARMERS should be encouraged to diversify and not be penalised for trying to make a living within the constraints of the farm, says the North York Moors National Park Authority planning committee.

The committee has decided not to take enforcement action on the use of a farm building for tool manufacture at Hill Top Farm, just to the west of Spaunton Village on the Hutton-le-Hole road.

A complaint had been made that various unauthorised developments were taking place and planning officers had investigated the claim.

The owner stated that, since 1998, the farm workshop had been shared with the gradual development of a farm diversification project and now involved the design, development and making of hand-tools for use on the land.

The project had won a grant in 2000-2001 and was now registered as the Lazy Dog tool Co. It employed one full-time worker, two self-employed sons of local farmers, and a bookkeeper for one day a week.

The prime reasons for the existence of the workshop remained unchanged. It was still the only place where farm machinery was repaired and maintained, using the same kind of equipment as was applied to tool making. The business was still at an early stage of development, and not in a position to sustain higher running costs.

"If the output of the business were to increase significantly, we would certainly apply for a 'change of use' permission," said the farmer.

The workshop had successfully managed to register six new tool designs over the last four years, and these were finally gaining some recognition. "We have recently increased our borrowing, so we very much hope that for the time being, planners will allow us to carry on our work here, undisturbed by an extra costs," he added.

Mrs Betsy Hill could not believe the workshop had been reported. "This is a perfect example of making the farm sustainable and is what we are trying to encourage. I think there has been some malice here," she said.

The chairman of the authority, Mrs Helen Schroeder, agreed with the comments but said that, as a complaint had been made, officers had been duty bound to investigate. The business should be supported and, if planning was breached, action would eventually be taken.

The chairman of the planning committee, Philip Shaw, suggested the matter be left for a year to give the farmer a chance to see if the business could prove successful.

This was agreed, and no enforcement order will be sought at this time