Christian centre withdraws plans

The Scargill Movement sparked strong opposition with its bid to extend Scargill House near Kettlewell through a 6.5m development.

But in a move which has been welcomed by residents in the surrounding area the Christian charity has formally withdrawn its planning application to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority following the wave of objections.

Simon Browning, project director for the Scargill Movement, said: "The application had raised much interest and concern both locally and further afield, and that concern has highlighted for us a number of important issues that need to be addressed carefully.

"Improvement and development are vital for Scargill House to continue as a much-loved retreat and residential Christian conference centre, and for it to be a valuable resource for Upper Wharfedale.

"But both the management team and trustees feel it's best to take some time to ensure that concerns have been correctly understood."

The Scargill Movement says that it will be reviewing all the objections received by the planning authority, and giving appropriate opportunities on site at Scargill for local people as well as Scargill Friends and Companions to express their concerns so that together they can find the best way forward.

The move has been welcomed by residents in the surrounding area including Kettlewell and Starbotton, who joined forces to form Waspdale – Wharfedale Against Scargill Plans, Design and Light Emissions – to fight the plans.

Pat Charlton, vice chairman of Waspdale, said: "As far as we are concerned it is wonderful news. We have never ever been against the community at Scargill House. In fact we very much welcome a successful and vibrant community at Scargill. Our issues were only ever with the development which we felt was inappropriate in scale and design.

"We very much welcome the rethink and we would very much like to work with them to help them develop something which meets everyone's needs and that everyone is happy with. We want to be good neighbours and we are sure they do too."

The Scargill Movement's bid for planning permission from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to extend the existing Christian residential and educational centre was met with staunch opposition.

Critics had feared that the expansion would lead to light pollution and traffic problems and have a detrimental effect on local wildlife and trees on the site.

People were concerned that a proposed concrete and glass building would lead to light pollution in the dark dale.

There were also fears that construction traffic would have to pass through Kettlewell along a minor road single track that leads to the centre and is used by farmers and walkers.

The Scargill Movement had wanted to update the building for the next 25 years through a mixture of refurbishing existing buildings and some new build.

The organisation's controversial plans included a new building consisting of 25 rooms for guest accommodation and the demolition of some existing buildings which would be replaced with new dining and meeting facilities and community accommodation for the residents in a complex of interlinked buildings.

As well as increasing the number of guests who could stay at the centre to 100, the changes would also have accommodated a youth facility for 35 people.

The planning committee had been expected to consider the planning application on either May 11 or June 8.