A BUSINESSWOMAN, who runs a roadside snack bar near Skipton, was fighting for permission to stay in business this week.

Joan Wade, owner of the Tomato Dip situated by a lay-by on Keighley Road, has appealed against Craven District Council's decision to refuse retrospective planning permission for a new cabin despite McDonald's being allowed to open nearby.

On Monday a planning inspector heard both sides of the argument before visiting the site.

The Tomato Dip caravan has been a welcome stopping place for motorists and tourists for some time, but when Mrs Wade took over, she replaced it with a larger portable cabin offering seating.

Despite receiving more than 300 letters in support of the snack bar, Craven planners refused permission for it to remain.

Appeal inspector Andrew Freeman said the main issues were the cabin's effect on the environment and traffic safety along Keighley Road.

Craven planning officer Roger France said the cabin was in a dedicated landscaped area and was an "inappropriate form of development".

"It does not take much imagination to appreciate the effect of a development like that along any road, never mind the approach to the town centre," said Mr France.

In terms of highway safety the hearing was told that speed along Keighley Road had recently been reduced to 30mph.

Highways officer Ken Martin listed the number of injury accidents, but admitted he did not know whether any were linked to the snack bar.

"By introducing a snack bar which will encourage people to do u-turns, you are making existing problems worse," he said.

In a written report, highways officials said: "Lack of parking is a concern. When the lay-by becomes full, ordinary users would have to search elsewhere for a suitable stopping place and users of the snack bar will park on the adjacent verges and footways.

"This is a hazard to pedestrians and to other road users when mud is dragged onto the carriageway."

Mrs Wade told the hearing she refused to serve people who parked on the grass verges.

The appeal heard the lay-by was created before Skipton bypass was built to provide a resting place for long-distance motorists.

Mr Freeman asked why the space could not be used by Tomato Dip if it was no longer needed to provide a place for people to rest.

Mr Martin said it was not a problem until it exceeded the parking capacity. He added that there was already a problem with cars getting in and out of junctions along Keighley Road.

Mrs Wade said that if the appeal went against her she would move the business back into the caravan which was still on site and did not need planning permission.

But Mr Martin said the council had powers to remove the caravan if someone was trading from it and its use was prejudicial to road safety.

The inspector is expected to give his decision in a few weeks.