Plans for new homes approved despite opposition

Plans to build almost 100 homes on the edge a village have been approved by councillors - although some said they felt they had "no choice" but to give the go-ahead.

The plans were submitted by Caddick Land and TJ Swiers for land off Topcliffe Road in Dishforth, between Ripon and Thirsk.

North Yorkshire Council's Skipton and Ripon area planning committee took the decision despite widespread opposition from local residents concerned about strained infrastructure and a lack of school places.

Councillors accused the government of "bullying" councils and communities over housing targets, which were called "unrealistic".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, about 30 members of the public attended the meeting at Ripon Town Hall.

The meeting heard that North Yorkshire was unable to meet its government target of having a five-year land supply for new housing.

In response, councillor Nick Brown called on the committee to reject the application.

He said: "Someone has to make a stand and I propose we refuse this application for very sound reasons.

"These opportunistic applications should be stopped at some stage."

Councillor Robert Heseltine agreed with his Conservative colleague and urged the committee to reject the application.

He said: "Local democracy in Dishforth from today, if we don't make a stand against the bullies in Westminster, is dead.

"One thing I've learned in my 81 years on earth is you stand up to bullies because if you don't stand up to bullies, they grind you into the ground."

But confirming he would be voting in favour of the application, chair of the committee, councillor Nathan Hull, said: "I don't like anything about this application.

"I really feel that Dishforth is not the right place for this housing, but I can't see that I can vote against it."

Other councillors said they too were reluctantly voting in favour, with the meeting hearing that the applicant was likely to be successful at appeal if the plans were rejected, with the council incurring legal costs.

Councillors were told that while Yorkshire Water had lodged an objection, it would still have a statutory duty to provide adequate sewage facilities if the application was approved.

Officers advised that a condition would be attached to the application to ensure that the sewage system was upgraded before homes were built.

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