Villagers say lives have been ‘turned upside down’ by plan for children’s holiday park
RESIDENTS BATTLING a plan to launch a children’s holiday park in a quiet village have told how the closely-knit community has been ‘turned upside down’ since the scheme was announced.
David Stockport, who served in North Yorkshire Police for 32 years before working with adults with learning disabilities, said he and his wife, Maggie, had been set to retire to Wales to be closer to their family when PGL submitted its plans to transform the historic Grade II-listed Newby Wiske Hall, near Northallerton, last June.
They said after learning of the plan for an activity centre – featuring giant rope swings, double zip wires, climbing walls and an extension to the lake for canoeing, kayaking and rafting – for about 500 guests at a time, the village had been avoided by househunters.
Mr Stockport said: “As soon as the announcement was made the viewings stopped dead.
“We spoke to our estate agent who said ‘you may as well take it off the market because nobody in their right mind is going to make an offer while this is outstanding’.
“We have absolutely been left in limbo.
“Our estate agent said if it goes ahead we are looking at between a ten and 15 per cent reduction in house value.”
He said since PGL’s scheme was announced no properties had been sold in the village.
Mr Stockport said their decision to battle Hambleton District Council’s decision to approve the scheme in a High Court action had put their “lives on hold and retirement plans at risk” especially if they lost.
He said: “It’s a lot of money for people to find, but it’s our life, it’s the village’s future.”
He added: “There’s no doubt in my mind if PGL’s plans were to go ahead it would ruin this village and the surrounding villages.”
It was revealed last week that plans to turn the former headquarters into a residential training centre faced an uncertain future.
Hambleton District Council said it had quashed the decision it made last year to give the green light to PGL Travel Ltd’s application at Newby Wiske Hall.
The proposal, which came after North Yorkshire Police announced it was to move to more modern premises, was fiercely opposed by many local residents.
The council said yesterday that its planning permission and listed building consent decisions had been challenged in the High Court, with protesters asking them to be overturned on five grounds.
It said it agreed with two of these grounds, based on the impact on the setting of the listed building, and agreed the decision ought to be reheard.
North Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said last week that she noted the decision by Hambleton District Council and ‘will watch with interest as the new planning application process gets underway’.
The oldest parts of the building appear to date from 1693, but most of the current structure was built in the 19th century. It was used as a training centre by North Riding Constabulary from 1954.