National park authority members have given permission for this year’s Scott Trial after hearing the historic motor sport event had the backing of the local community.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority agreed to Richmond Motor Club’s application for temporary permission for the 2026 event to take place in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale next month.
The club and national park officers will now work together to produce plans to reduce the impact of the trial on ancient woodland and archaeological remains in the Dales.
It is hoped the mitigation work will lead to a longer term planning permission being issued again in the future.
The trial will celebrate its centenary this year.
More than £230,000 had been donated to charities and local good causes from proceeds raised by the event, described by Robert Stones, president of Richmond Motor Club, as the “toughest one-day trial in the world”.
Mr Stones told the planning committee meeting, at the authority’s headquarters in Bainbridge, that the organisers were well aware the course crossed very sensitive ground.
He said: “We do our utmost to abide by all rules and regulations requested by various authorities and landowners.
“The club was first approached by Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority in 1999, suggesting we needed planning permission to run the event.
“Planning permission has been granted at regular intervals over the past 25 years, roughly once every five years.
“As a club, we hope that we can secure further planning permission for this prestigious event.
“Hopefully, we can work alongside YDNPA and other organisations to ensure this event continues well into the future.”
Upper Dales councillor Yvonne Peacock spoke in support of the event and proposed that the committee should accept the officer’s recommendation to grant permission.
She said: “This is 100 years old and it’s important to the local community.
“It has the support of every parish council in the area. They believe in the importance of this as a cultural event.”
Cllr Peacock urged officers to continue supporting the club to ensure it was granted planning permission for a longer period.
Other members also spoke in support of the meeting, with several suggesting that more damage was caused by walkers and mountain bikers than the Scott Trial.
The application was backed unanimously by members of the committee.
Richard Graham, head of development management at the park authority, confirmed officers would work with the club to prepare an application to be brought back to the committee next year.
He said: “This one needs to come back in good time for when the event takes place next year.
“It’s going to have to come back with a lot more details about what baseline conditions are, if there are any plans for monitoring that, mitigation measures and all of that.
“So we’re going to work with the applicants to make sure that happens.”
The Scott Trial sees around 200 riders tackle a challenging course of around 130km through Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.
The annual event attracts some of the best trials bike riders in the world.
The majority of the route is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and passes through protected habitats, three areas of ancient semi-natural woodland and close to numerous archaeological features and scheduled monuments.
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