A 'DIFFICULT and unpopular' new homes application for Gargrave was approved by North Yorkshire councillors earlier today (Tuesday).

Councillors said they had no choice but to give the go-ahead for 38 homes, including 11 affordable, off Marton Road after the developer working with the highways authority came back with a proposal for a new footpath aimed at improving safety. There was also assurances from the developer, R N Wooler and Co, that it does not own land beyond the application site.

The scheme is an amended version of an original application that was refused permission by the former Craven District Council in January, 2023 and which was recommended for approval at the June meeting of North Yorkshire Council's Skipton and Ripon area planning committee meeting. A decision was deferred at the June meeting to seek road safety measures, following concerns from residents and the parish council about farm traffic using Marton Road to access a 'substantial' dairy farm, and witnessed by councillors at a site visit.

Planning officer, Sam Binney told today's meeting that a new footpath would be created along Marton Road using council owned land connecting Walton Close to Walton Avenue, that the principle of housing had been established in both the Craven Local Plan and the Gargrave Local Neighbourhood Plan, and that there was no reason why the application be refused.

However, spokesperson for objectors, Helen Johnson, and Gregory Butt, chair of Gargrave Parish Council, both spoke strongly against the scheme, referring to safety issues on Marton Road and additional farm traffic caused by the expansion of the 'industrial dairy' at Bank Newton.

Cllr Butt also wanted to know how a decision could be made without an independent traffic survey and said councillors had seen for themselves at the June site visit the traffic issues on Marton Road.

Ward councillor Simon Myers, who was unable to attend because he was at a council cabinet meeting in Northallerton, said in a statement read out at the meeting that he welcomed the additional footpath link and housing, but had concerns about the dairy at Bank Newton and had asked for additional expansion plans at the farm to come before councillors.

Cllr Robert Heseltine, who today moved approval of the application along with officer recommendation, said he hoped existing residents of Marton Road and Gargrave would welcome the new residents after saying he was pleased there had been a positive outcome following deferral of the application in June.

"I sincerely hope that existing residents of Marton Road and Gargrave will welcome the new residents with warmness and kindness and that all of the new and existing population can live in harmony," he said.

Cllr Andy Brown said he would abstain from the vote because of the 'very difficult' situation.

He had seen for himself 'heavy vehicles trundling up and down the road' but a refusal of the scheme could lead to appeal and costs being awarded against the council. and ultimately residents.

"If I vote against it, it will go to appeal; if I for it I am betraying the local community, my only option is to abstain," he said.

Cllr David Ireton agreed it was a difficult situation, but pointed out the site had been allocated for housing in the Craven Local Plan, which had taken many years to put together, and also the Gargrave Neighbourhood Plan, which had been put together by the parish council.

"It was local people who identified that field as suitable for development," he said.

Cllr Andy Solloway said he was very familiar with the road both as a car driver and as a cyclist and he still had concerns about the use of the proposed footpath, saying he did not think it was 'ideal'.

"I think it is a difficult position for us, but I think we are stuck with having to approve it," he said.

Committee chair, Cllr Nathan Hull said it had clearly been an 'emotive' application with residents of Gargrave.

He said following the deferral of the application, the developer had done everything councillors had asked.

"From my perspective, the developer has discharged its responsibilities with respect to this application which as (other councillors) have said means there is no real reason that we can give for a refusal because the developer has complied with everything that has been asked for in terms of having an open dialogue with case officers and highways," he said.

"One thing I would add is people might have the opinion that we are here just to rubber-stamp recommendations, but in this case, I think it is a great example of a committee putting forward proposals that are then implemented, because without that, the application would have gone through without any improvements to the footpath. That is a positive reason for bringing things like this to committee because even if the decision is not to the liking of local residents, I think we have taken what is a difficult and very unpopular application and we managed to get some positive things out of it.

"There is no reason in law to turn the application down, and for that reason, I feel I have to support it."