Residents lost housing battle

The move was opposed by local residents and the parish council.

But members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's planning committee voted this week to approve the plans to convert the former offices and warehouse at the Old Masons Yard into a terrace of three cottages. Two of the cottages will have two bedrooms and the third will have three bedrooms.

Strong objections were made to the proposals and the last time it was before committee, members agreed to go on a site visit before making their final decision.

However, only one third of members went on the site visit and the committee was asked again on Tuesday if it would like a second site visit in order for all members to have the same knowledge before making a decision.

Paul Pearce, clerk to Clapham Parish Council, said the parish council had been "surprised and disappointed" to learn only seven members had gone on the site visit. He added members really needed to see the site to "appreciate just how unsuitable it is for housing".

Members voted against this option though and said such a course of action could set an "unfortunate precedent".

The scheme was put forward by Dalesmoor Homes, based in the village. As well as the parish council, Clapham Village Hall committee also "vigorously opposed" the plan.

Clapham residents feared the development would cause a conflict of interests with the nearby village hall, would restrict access to the hall and might disturb a memorial garden where the ashes of Dalesman founding editor Harry Scott were scattered.

Mr Pearce said the proposals were a "serious threat to the future of the village hall as a community building and must be strongly resisted".

He added the hall had just recently been modernised, a scheme costing £75,000 with a lot of the money coming from local sources. Mr Pearce said the plans for the houses had been based on the site before the village hall had been extended.

Mr Pearce said in a letter to the committee: "The village hall is at the very heart of our community, which has very few other amenities within easy reach. It must not be put at risk. It is used almost every day in the winter months... sometimes by more than one group on the same day.

"Because this is a rural area, many people have to come to the hall by car and make use of the small car park. The car park is often busy with cars coming and going, and turning and parking right up against the walls of the proposed houses. The likelihood of disputes with occupiers of the proposed houses is obvious."

Member Wilf Fenten moved refusal of the application at the meeting on the grounds the plans would mean over development of the site and would create some serious access problems.

He added: "Most importantly I quoted policy FS2 which says a proposal should be opposed if it would result in the loss of facilities which serve the local community."

Mr Fenten told the Herald: "I was guided by what the parish council and the elected district councillor said and I felt the effect on the village hall would be very detrimental and could lead to a loss of booking and lessen the village hall's viability.

"I am disappointed by the result as I think we must give village facilities like the village hall much greater importance in our planning decisions."

However, member John Blackie was one of a majority of members who voted in favour of the application.

He argued that if the thought of possible disputes with those who bought the houses erupting in the car park put local groups and people off using the village hall, "they are a pretty lily-livered lot in Clapham".

Mr Blackie added the houses could provide small low cost accommodation for local people. It was added that those who would possibly buy the houses would use the village hall anyway.

Members also said they had heard how the offices had been empty for five years and Dalesmoor Homes, which recently bought Giggleswick's Castleberg Hospital, had not been able to find a commercially viable option for the premises.