Help shape National Park planning policy

PEOPLE living in and around the Ribblesdale and Craven areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are being invited to have their say next week (Thursday 28 June) on local housing and minerals/waste issues.

This is the second of four public meetings organised by the National Park Authority (YDNPA) at venues across the Park to give local people a chance to influence the new Local Development Framework - a set of planning policies which will determine future development in this protected region.

The review of housing policy is expected to generate considerable debate and the YDNPA is hoping local people will take the opportunity to help shape future policy.

Issues up for discussion include:

• The release of new sites on the edge of communities for more affordable housing
• Adjusting housing development boundaries to create more local occupancy housing?
• Installing renewable energy in new housing.

Yvonne Peacock, Park Planning Member said: "The debate on housing policy continues to move forward and I would urge anyone with an interest to get involved.

"Despite pioneering local occupancy policies in the Local Plan published in 2006, the shortfall of affordable housing and the range of housing accessible to new households living and working in the National Park is clearly getting worse and not better.

"We therefore need to rethink housing policy and consider how we can be more proactive about the provision of new sites, without harming the qualities that make the Dales special."

Minerals and waste policies for the National Park are also due for review. Issues here include:

• What steps should be taken to seek a progressive reduction in aggregate production from the National Park?
• How should the small-scale working of building and roofing stone for local use continue to be encouraged?
• Which aspects of quarrying have the biggest impact on local communities and visitors and how could adverse impacts be reduced?

"Quarrying is a major industry in the south and west of the National Park. It provides employment but has a significant impact on local communities and the landscape," said Mrs Peacock.

"The Authority needs to find new policies that will help to minimise the impact."

The meeting will take place on Thursday 28 June at 7pm in the Ingleborough Community Centre in Ingleton and will be chaired by Authority Chairman Carl Lis.

There will be presentations about the Local Development Framework process and then a workshop on the various issues and options for housing policy and minerals and waste policy.

One meeting has already taken place in Sedbergh and two more are planned on Wednesday 4 July starting at 7pm in Grassington Town Hall and on Wednesday 25 July starting at 6.30pm in the YDNPA Yoredale offices in Bainbridge.

Following the public meetings and analysis of any additional questionnaires, the YDNPA will draw up a list of preferred options that will shape future planning policy.

Anyone interested in attending the event or wanting further information should contact YDNPA Strategic Planning Officer Peter Stockton on 01969 652334 or email peter.stockton@yorkshiredales.org.uk