Members of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority have agreed to extend the time for people to put views across at planning committee meetings.

It is just one of several alterations that will come into effect for the first time on Tuesday.

Committee chairman Harold Brown said: “I’m delighted to say that there will now also be an opportunity for the relevant parish council or parish meeting to address the committee.

“This is just one of a number of things that the authority is doing to try to increase local democratic accountability and to strengthen the involvement of parish councils in shaping the way the authority deals with development management issues.”

Under the previous arrangements, the number of speakers was limited to one on each “side”, speaking for up to three minutes. The new arrangement increases that time limit to five minutes and allows up to two speakers on each “side”.

The chairman retains discretion to allow more speakers where required.