POLICY making councillors at Craven Council have backed an action plan aimed at attracting younger people to both stay put and to move to the area.

The Attracting Younger People to Craven Action Plan, which will be supported by £20,000 from the council’s New Homes Bonus Reserve money, and which involves the five local authorities of the Dales, has been approved by the council’s Policy Committee and will now go forward to full council for ratification.

If approved by the full council next month, the action plan will set out ways it is hoped will increase the number and quality of jobs, build new homes, improve broadband and mobile phone coverage, and retain access to services such as primary schools and GP surgeries.

Councillor Simon Myers, lead member for Enterprising Craven, said: “We know we are facing issues relating to the loss of younger people from Craven and the wider Yorkshire Dales. We need to attract more young people and families to the area to ensure our towns and villages survive in the future.

“Some of the elements of this action plan are already well underway, such as projects to enhance Grassington, and the delivery of new homes in Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Airton. We are also making progress with our Great Place: Lakes and Dales scheme, which has been delivering cultural projects and producing valuable insights through research.”

He added: “This plan will evolve as we identify new opportunities to help us promote Craven and the wider area as a fantastic place for young people and families to live and work.”

The plan has been developed by Craven District Council, Eden District Council, Richmondshire District Council, South Lakeland District Council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Each will contribute £20,000 to the delivery of the plan.

It includes a five-year programme of measures to promote the National Park as a place to live for younger, working age households. There are also plans to create the new post of ‘town centre development officer’ to support economic, community and tourism development in towns and villages.

Last year, Craven Council supported moves by the national park to increase by five times council tax paid on second homes in the national park, which the authority says makes up 10 per cent of all properties. The tax rise failed at the start of last year after the plan failed to win the support of all of the national park’s local authorities.