LONG-RUNNING plans for three fishing lakes have been rejected by national park planners.

Mike Cowling, of Mickbelong Farm, Urra, near Chop Gate wanted to build the lakes.

He sought to build the ponds and a parking area off the B1257 and the plans were revised to address safety fears.

The Environment Agency dropped its objections to the scheme and North Yorkshire County Council's highways agreed in principle.

But Val Dilcock, chief planning officer, of the North York Moors National Park, said: "We are in favour of farm diversification, where it does not spoil the special qualities of the park.

"But we feel the landscape is such in this case, that it would not be an acceptable farm diversification. As officers, we don't believe that this is the right use or that it is the right place."

And Bilsdale Midcable Parish Council objected to the grounds, mainly on safety issues.

The council feels the stretch of B1257, where the entrance would have been sited, was too much of an accident blackspot.

The local branch of the National Farmers' Union supported the plan and saw it as a good example of diversification.

The applicant's agent Paul Elm, of Paul Elm Planning Consultant, said they had hoped for better news.

He added: "We overcame highway and Environment Agency concerns. But the national park was obviously set on its own course of action."