PEOPLE could be allowed to speak before the North York Moors National Park planning committee as part of a planned shake-up.

But planning officers are to take a tougher line on properties which are let for holidays, and fewer applications will actually go before the authority's planning committee.

Changes facing the planning regime were outlined to members of Danby parish council.

The national park's chief planning officer, Val Dilcock, spoke to councillors after they voiced fears that Government-driven changes could affect the quality of decisions.

The parish council was worried that plans would be rushed through the system and was unhappy that a high percentage were being delegated to be dealt with outside the committee structure.

Mrs Dilcock said the aim was to simplify planning.

"It should make it easier for us to talk to people to formulate plans for villages," she said. "We can get together and do special things within the community.

"People can have their say and it will give residents more of a voice in what happens in their areas. We have wanted to do this for some time."

Under new performance targets, 80 per cent of applications should be dealt within eight weeks.

The Government also wants to see 90 per cent of plans decided under delegated powers.