This photograph was taken two years ago of house martins at the rear of the barn in Coniston Cold.

They nested in the barn alongside the bags for more than a century. Sadly they are no longer present due to building work.

The barn has been approved by Craven District Council to become two, four-bedroomed homes. However, a further planning application has since been submitted to completely demolish the barn. This application remains undetermined by CDC.

We also await the results of a heritage report that we understand has been commissioned by CDC.

In Coniston Cold there are no facilities, or playgrounds for the children, yet there are six new-build houses being built on the small croft behind the barn, none of which are affordable.

Your readers will probably identify with this, as developments are taking place across all such villages in Craven. We understand that CDC's five-year local development plan for housing has already been fulfilled with many planning permissions granted but not built.

Elizabeth Andrews

The Old School House

Coniston Cold