A THRESHFIELD farmer is diversifying from cattle and sheep in a bid to sell spring water collected from his land.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority granted planning permission despite protestations from Coun Ken Luty that the increase of traffic would endanger pedestrians and the new venture would affect local water supply.

The scheme has been put forward by farmer's son, schoolteacher Dan Harrison, of Old Hall Farm. He hopes to sell the water to bottling plants, distillers or soft drinks makers.

The plan is to install a spring water collection chamber, 250 metres of underground pipeline and a 60,000 litre storage tank.

The planning application was granted on the condition that no direct retail sales would be made from the site. Members took the view that any increase in traffic due to this venture would be minimal.

There were also concerns that the development would affect the water supply to 100 residences, but these fears too were dismissed as the spring was totally unconnected to that used by Threshfield Water Company.

The move is part of a trend in modern farming towards diversification spearheaded by Tony Blair.

Mr Harrison has yet to apply for an abstraction licence from the Environmental Agency, which he must do before the scheme can go ahead.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.