Aysgarth and District Parish Council has agreed to oppose plans for an expansion of the Aysgarth Lodges site.
Councillors at a recent meeting likened the site to a small urban housing development which, due to the lighting, had a detrimental impact upon the Dark Sky Initiative.
The parish council agreed to object to the application for 17 glamping pods to be added to the Aysgarth Lodge Holidays site at Westholme between Aysgarth and West Burton.
It stated in its objection: “Any further expansion would be an over development of the site and add to that detrimental impact.
“This proposal for glamping pods is also at odds with the approval of the site for temporary accommodation, since the application describes the way in which these pods would be located on a slope, built into the ground and half covered with earth.
“That certainly cannot be considered to be a temporary structure that can easily be taken away and leave no residual impact.”
The parish council pointed out that the earlier use of the site for touring caravans and camping had had minimal impact upon the landscape, but was lost in 2007 when it was converted to holiday lodges only.
It added: “To maximise return on their investment the owners might be better advised to look at reinstating some of the touring caravan and camping opportunities.”
The parish council listed what appeared to be inconsistencies in planning decisions and added that the present site created a large amount of pedestrian activity along part of the A684 where there were no footpaths.
“Many of these people already create a hazard by walking in the road with their backs to the traffic,” it stated.
Thornton Rust. – The parish council was also concerned that pedestrians were having to walk down the centre of the road in that village due to the lack of footpaths and the number of parked cars.
“Children and traffic don’t mix,” commented the chairman, Cllr John Dinsdale.
It was agreed, following a request from Thornton Rust Parish Meeting, to contact the YDNPA ranger about a stile at the east end of the village which was difficult to use.
Thoralby. – Cllr Linda Cooper reported that two bridges in Thoralby were in danger of collapsing. The clerk was asked to contact the Highways Authority about Little Burns bridge on Westfield Lane where water was getting under the large paved cobbles and it had become a health and safety issue.
The clerk will contact the YDNPA Ranger about the bridge by the Wash Dub as it also was in danger of collapsing.
The parish council agreed to pay for an additional bin for Thoralby and Cllr Cooper will inform the district council about the location. She also reported that the village needs a new noticeboard.
Aysgarth. – North Yorkshire County councillor Yvonne Peacock informed the parish council that Highways were looking into various issues affecting the village, including the requested changes to the layout at the top of Mill Lane junction with the A684 and the white linings. She has also taken up the issue of the repairs to the tarmac at the entrance to the car park outside the Falls Motel.
Cllr Peter Windle reported that Aysgarth Institute would like to plant a cherry blossom tree to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and various sites were being discussed including the small green below the old Methodist chapel.
Next meeting. – Is at Aysgarth Institute at 7.30pm on Thursday May 26.
