Scheme to double size of reserve rejected

The plans for the £475,000 expansion, by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, have provoked a furious reaction among residents in Staveley, near Knaresborough, with people claiming the size of the development was totally inappropriate and could dwarf the up-market village.

Critics also complained over a lack of consultation and claimed the village could be over-run by schools and visitors from across the area.

The scheme had been recommended for approval but yesterday a Harrogate Borough Council Planning Committee voted to block the application.

Trevor Stearn, the 75-year-old chairman of the Harrogate Access Group, who represent people with disabilities, was one of around 20 campaigners at the meeting.

“We are not happy”, he said. “I regret that the trust didn’t come and speak with people in the first place.

“I’m hoping we can get together and plan together for a sensible way forward.

“They have got to re-think this. It will be great if it is done right. If it is not, then it will be a nightmare.”

Harrogate councillor Anthony Alton, who chaired a public meeting over the proposals in Staveley last week, said: “I saw the scale of opposition to this at the last meeting.”

Under the proposals, the Staveley Nature Reserve, which dates back to the 18th century and is considered to contain the finest collection of dragonflies and damselflies in the region, would have been doubled in size to nearly 200 acres with new car parks, footpaths and two large glazed bird hides installed, designed to hold more than 30 people each.

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust became involved on the site in 1992 and last year secured £474,600 in Heritage Lottery Funding to buy up 100 acres of land next to it and expand.

A trust spokesman claimed, without the expansion, the habitat of the reserve could have been threatened. Nobody at the trust was available for comment last night.