CONTROVERSIAL plans to establish an all year round touring caravan park on the outskirts of Skipton have been allowed on appeal.

Owner Nathan Hudson's scheme to create a 20 pitch caravan park and warden's accommodation at Crookrise Caravan Park , off The Bailey, was refused permission by Craven District Council just before Christmas last year.

Councillors, after hearing strong representations from residents of next door Overdale Park, went against the advice of officers and turned it down because of its impact on the A59 and on residents.

Several residents of the static caravan site said plans for Crookrise - which already had temporary use for a limited number of days per year - would destroy the 'peace and seclusion' of their community.

They said Overdale was specifically for people over 55 years old, had 170 residents and that they had moved there because of its tranquility.

They feared the establishment of a touring park next door would mean noise and disturbance with people turning up at all hours and possible 'anti-social' behaviour.

But government planning inspector, Philip Asquith, overturned the decision of the council and gave permission for the development to go ahead - although separate approval will be needed for the amenity block.

Mr Asquith said he had taken into account the inpact on the character and appearance of the locality and on the living conditions of nearby residents.

"It is my overall view that, subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions, the proposal would neither materially adversely affect the character and appearance of the locality or the living conditions of nearby residential occupiers," he said.

While accepting there could be an increase in traffic, he did not consider it to be of such a magnitude to result in unacceptable levels of disturbance or loss of privacy.

Skipton councillor Robert Heseltine, who strongly opposed the application when it was refused by Craven District Council, said the decision went against local democracy and made him question the point of a Craven planning committee.

"My congratulations to the applicant, but unfortunately this is another glaring example of a national planning inspector based in Bristol overturning local democracy. I am beginning to wonder just what the purpose is of having a local planning committee when it would appear that most of the time, our time is being wasted."