THE long-term future of a charity which offers lifeline minibus services to the disabled could be under threat after planning chiefs turned down its application for a new transport centre.

Skipton and Craven Action for Disability (SCAD) was set to take up an offer of land at Wood View, Embsay, to build a community and administration centre with spaces to park its fleet of minibuses.

But Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planners have refused the scheme because of ‘loss of amenity’ and potential disturbance to the site’s neighbours.

An anonymous well-wisher had offered the land to SCAD at a peppercorn rent for 25 years after reading in the Herald of the charity’s difficulties with the extremely constricted location of its current base in Skipton town centre.

SCAD chief executive Roy Aldread said the charity’s volunteers were “obviously extremely disappointed” by the decision.

He said: “It’s a great pity but we can’t say what we are going to do until after the next board meeting. As far as I know there is nothing to stop us appealing or putting in another application but we will have to think very carefully about what happens next.”

SCAD is based on Newmarket Street and currently can park only four of its six minibuses on Petyt Grove behind its offices. It will be getting another vehicle shortly after being awarded Government cash.

The charity was set up to provide essential transport services for people with disabilities. It also runs a disability canal boat and runs four charity shops in Craven and Keighley.

In its application to the planning authority, SCAD said that it needed to move to a self-contained unit to deal with the increasing demand on its services. Last year it was forced to close its loss-making shop in Ilkley.

National park authority planners refused the SCAD application because they thought it would “result in an unacceptable loss of amenity...by reason of noise and disturbance,” as well as “harmful visual impact on the quality and distinctiveness of the surrounding area.”

Meanwhile, SCAD is asking for new volunteers, especially drivers, to join the group.

Mr Aldread said the organisation was “desperately short” of help and it was a matter of urgency. Drivers have to be under 70 and full ‘MIDAS’ training will be given. Contact SCAD on 01756 701005.