Who Are the Culprits?
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Yorksh ire I / . // Q ■a CMJ » yi"| 5^ 0 1! .1^ .-i-: ;2 The Cams House Furore - Who are the Culprits? <T585,000 Lottery Funding for Gayle Mill Get Rid of the Grid Daleswatcb 11-50 At In fact estate agencies exist for this very purpose. "The time has come for the authorities with the - - , ^ _ , Yorkshire Dales According to the Yorkshire Post the most remit to deliver affordable housing to get on and vociferous critic of the National Park's "restrictive" do it, and for the politicians to stop their crowing Yorkshire Dales Review soaety^^r^^ policies is a prominent local politician who as well every time we refuse an application on sound, as being a member of the National Park Authority published and agreed policy grounds." No.82 ' Spring 2003 himself (so much for collective responsibility ...) just happens to operate a "holiday cottage booking The Yorkshire Dales Society can only echo David's Journal of the Yorkshire Dales Society Editors Colin and Fleur Speakman and management sei-vice" in Wensleydale. words. We fully agree that there are anomalies in a National Park Plan which can allow holiday use but The only way to solve Sharon and James' problem not permanent residence for people, and that there lies with their local own authority. A reservoir of perhaps needs to be flexibility when circumstances The Cams House Furore — publicly owned housing should be available at are exceptional. The Yorkshire Dales Society will affordable rents to families who have local be making representations to ensure the Second Who are the real Culprits? employment, in each of the larger settlements. But Draft Deposit Plan achieves the right balance. the National Park Authority is not the housing authority for Wensleydale. This is the responsibility But there needs to be fresh action by all interested Most members of the Yorkshire Dales Society will indeed a home for a local family would be a much of Richniondshire District Council. Yet as far as we parties to ensure that measures to help sustain local have every sympathy with Sharon Spensley and her more attractive feature than a semi-derelict barn. are aware, over the last ten years, Richmondshire communities are put in place within the Dales, and partner James Winspear, a Dales builder and waller, The problem with any planning policy is where has not built a single new home for rent in an adequate supply of affordable housing - and their young family, whose plans to rent a you draw the line on the sand. What happens Wensleydale. including Housing Association schemes - is central converted barn at Cams House, in Low Abbotside, when the next application for a conversion to any such provision. Instead of deliberately near Hawes. have been thwarted by the apparent appears, and the next, each pointing to the Cams And for the record who is the leader of fanning destructive flames of prejudice against the "intransigence" of the National Park Authority in decision as evidence why their application should Richmondshire District Council? That veiy same National Park Authority to divert attention from refusing planning permission for the conversion of be granted, plus car parking space, plus overhead outspoken local politician and champion of the their own activities and failings, it is time for critics the barn because it contravenes the National Park phone and power lines, plus new windows and all people ! to decide exactly where blame is due and exactly Plan for isolated barn conversions away from the subtle suburban-style improvements eveiyone who is not delivering. Perhaps they might start by settlements. wants to have in their homes ? And what happens As National Park Authority Chief Executive David looking into a mirror. when Sharon and James' family grow up and they Butterworth has expressed it: Colin Speakman What has caused the issue to hit the national press decide to move to their own place - will it remain is the fact that the decision of the Planning as a local house or will the owners eventually offer Committee was to turn down the application was it on the open market at the highest po.ssible price on the casting vote of the Chairman on being told to a wealthy retired couple from Bradford or that approval would be illegal. Birmingham to purchase as an investment ? Our First Corporate Members The furore which has ensued has provided ample ammunition for what has been described as a The Yorkshire Dales Society has always "wave of hostility" against the National Park campaigned to ensure that a healthy local economy We were delighted to lie able to welcome our first Gargrave. Skipton, BD23 3CX. tel: 01756 749250.) Authority's allegedly restrictive planning policies. survives and flourishes, which is ultimately the local business into the Yorkshire Dales Society. The popular cyclists' and walkers' cafe which only way to conser\'e the landscape heritage. This Rhetorical bluster in the national press and on TV To be a Corporate Member (with full voting rights) caters for eveiyone, is situated on the Pennine means not only ensuring jobs in farming, tourism, has talked of "dying communities" and "youngsters a Business has to agree to support the Society's Way route. It includes a specialist sweetshop, conservation or new high tech. industries for young leaving the area" because of the National Park twin objectives: wedding cake studio and showroom, and is Authority's heartless policies. The fact that the people, but affordable housing. Again, one of the renowned for its local baking. much repeated myths is that high housing prices "To advance the public knowledge and appreciation population of the Dales is actually growing (a 10% Dorothy Ward, Gargrave (The Barn. North increase has been recorded over the last couple of are unique to the Dales. Many affluent suburbs of the social history and the physical and cultural outside the National Park - towns such as heritage oj the Yorkshire Dales and to preserve its Street, Gargrave. BD23 3PN. tel: 01756 749275) decades) doesn't quite match these emotional Affordable goods, mainly of natural materials, claims. Wetherby, Ilkley, Harrogate - let alone most of condition, latidscape a)id tiatural beauty South East England - have the identical prol-)lems including: basket ware, home furnishings, What does incen.se local people is the suggestion, with even higher prices as any estate agents In addition our corporate members are asked to glassware. lighting and kitchenware. also rightly or otherwise, that had this laeen an share the Society's concern to supptut economic knitwear, silk scarves, stationery and wooden window will confirm. This is a national, not a local activity in the Yorkshire Dales by encouraging application for a holiday cottage, to be rented to problem. toys in a converted Dales barn. Gift wrappings afflLient couples from Surrey, the application wc^uld sustainable development in all its forms, especially calligraphy part of the sendee. have been approved on the grounds that it wcjuld farming, tourism and small business within the The only po.ssible .solution is to have a reservoir of Dales, providing such activity does not compromise Erskine Corporation, Settle (Erskine help the rural econcuny and farm diversification. rented homes which can be made available to Corporation Ltd. 7. High Street. Settle. BD24 9EX. Ironically such leeway, introduced by the Park the special landscape quality and natural i^eauty of young people until they reach a stage in life when the Dales, and to support innovative ideas in tel: 08708 456456, fax 0207 900 2322 also Authority because of pressure frf)m the farming properties are affordable to purchase. erskinecorp. com) This Dales based consultancy community it.self. is now thrown back at the Paik business development, transport and Linfortunately as and when .smaller properties such cciinmunications technology which will help deliver specialise as brand and communication as e\'idence thev pric^ritise visitor not local needs. as farm cottages come onto the market they are a prosperous future h)r Dales' communities, consultants and also have particular expertise as .As alwavs sensational individual hardship .stories smipped up as weekend or holiday cottages, especially for its ycuing people. rural regeneration specialists, creating ht)listic mask a mucli more complex picture. Clearly the creating inve.stment income for tho.se with plenty of business solutions through public funding bodies money to invest, outbidding Sharon and James or So far we have the lollowing eight Dales businesses easy decision would btt to make the Cams George Fisher, Skipton (1. Coach Street. other young people within the local community. iiave signed up as members. conversion an exception and allow the barn to Skipton, North Yorkshire. BD23 ILH. tel; 01~'56 become a home which, being clo.se to the roadside, Around 10% of homes in the National ikirk are ncwv Dalesman Cafe, Gargrave (The Dalesman. 794305; www.GEORGEFISHER.Co.Idv.) Leading would hardly I'^e an environmental disaster - used for weekend or holiday u.se. outdoor clothing specialist for walking, climbing or email: [email protected]) A Dales home in 2001 when Foot and serious mountaineering. Weatherproof garments to based team of professionals dedicated to bringing Mouth hit the dales hard. suit all needs. Boots for all climates and terrains, marketing experience to customers in a way which Thoughts of running the mill experienced staff. The firm has a keen interest in is straightforward, using a combination of skills in purely as a visitor attraction had National Parks and the environment. PR, advertising, database development, corporate already been ruled out, but Foot design, direct mail and telemarketing. and Mouth confirmed that the best Julia Homer, Redmire Farm, Buckden mill would be a working mill, Homer, Redmire Farm, Buckden, Skipton, BD23 5JD.