A PERSISTENT Skipton resident has halted work on an electricity sub-station next to his garden after fears about radiation.

Haydn Beresford, of Rockwood Drive, also became concerned at the prospect of having the value of his property reduced and his view marred when building suddenly started late last week.

But after enlisting the help of local councillors as well as complaining to Craven District Council and Yorkshire Electricity, work on the small stone building at the junction of Gargrave Road and Rockwood has stopped.

However, it is unlikely that the sub-station, intended to serve the Rockwood and Raikes area, will be moved as Mr Beresford would want.

Yorkshire Electricity are instead going to send an electromagnetic radiation expert to see Mr Beresford next week in an attempt to allay his fears.

Mr Beresford was most annoyed that he and his wife, Val, were not consulted about the sub-station. But the council were quick to point out that electricity firms do not need to acquire planning permission as a statutory right.

Mr Beresford said: "The council are in a difficult position. However, Yorkshire Electricity have agreed to cease construction of the sub-station. But they are keeping their cards close to their chest.

"I was not prepared to accept that nothing could be done. I am not accepting it as a fait accompli that someone comes and puts something on my boundary.

"There are perceived dangers connected with electro-magnetic radiation from high voltage cables."

Mr Beresford, along with his local councillor, Marcia Turner, contacted Craven Council's chief executive Dr Gillian Taylor to see what could be done about changing the site.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Electricity said: "We have put a hold on the building and we are going out to see Mr Beresford next week.

"The chap that does monitoring for us will show that it's perfectly safe. You have more electro-magnetic radition coming from the average fridge or microwave oven.

"We understand why people have concerns. And from a visual point of view, the building is going to be made from natural, local materials and we will refurbish the area around the sub-station."

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