A DALES village is maintaining its vehement resistance to designation as a conservation area, despite another meeting with national park chiefs.

A meeting in September was told Reeth had no wish to be included in the growing number of communities awarded a similar status - even though it could attract additional grants to help preserve buildings and the environment of the village.

When members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority gather in Middleham next week, they will consider a report which makes it clear Reeth is not for turning, despite another consultation on October 22.

When the parish council first responded to the proposals, it was adamant people who live in the village felt there were already sufficient planning controls in place to protect the community from developers.

"All areas (of the village) are important and we find local people usually do their best to improve the village, whether living in old or new houses and, wherever possible, we try to help them,'' wrote parish clerk Margaret Porter.

After last month's meeting on the same issue, she writes: "Reeth is already controlled by the Commons Act, the national park's planning committee, listed building controls and the national park's Local Plan, which we feel adequately cover building and planning control for any future development.

"A further set of restrictions can only be superfluous to requirements."

Nevertheless, the national park authority's officers are still recommending that at least part of the village is given conservation area status.

A report, which is to be considered when members meet on Tuesday, recommends the buildings around the village green should be included, although not those around the outskirts of the community.

Reeth Parish Council has already indicated it will appeal if the authority presses ahead.

However, in his report, the national park's building conservation officer, Graham Darlington, says: "There is no statutory right to appeal against a designation, although, in theory, it is probably possible to seek judicial review of an authority's decision to designate an area as a conservation area.'