Dales homes plan

Council tax increase proposed

THE YORKSHIRE Dales is not only one of this region’s greatest treasures but the country’s too. More than 3.8 million visitors flocked to the Yorkshire Dales National Park last year, drawn there by the stunning scenery and picturesque villages that give the area its unique character.

However, there is growing concern over the longterm sustainability of these communities that form the backbone of our precious countryside. There is a critical housing shortage in the national park that has led the Yorkshire Dales National Park authority, along with five district councils and three county councils, to propose a council tax increase on second homes “at least five times” the existing rate, meaning a Band D property owner would have to fork out £8,500 each year.

The proposal, part of a five-year pilot scheme, will be put forward at a meeting next week and is hoped will help discourage more people from buying second homes in the Dales.

On the face of it this may appear a punitive approach but the simple fact is something has to be done. Second homes, which often lie empty for large parts of the year, account for as much as 30 per cent of housing in some areas and this is taking its toll, with younger people in particular often faced with the heartwrenching decision to move away from villages where their families have lived for generations.

Tourism is worth an estimated £252m to the local economy each year and council leaders must be careful they don’t drive wealthy visitors away.

However, if the Yorkshire Dales is to continue to flourish it is essential that young families can afford to live and work there.