National Park split over plan to ban new holiday homes

PLANS to ban holiday homes being built in one of Britain's most beautiful areas have split the community.`

- Izzy Hawksworth

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority wants to ensure all new properties are permanently occupied.

If the proposals are approved, the ban would apply across the 27 towns and villages in the Dales - including Bolton Abbey, Hawes and Malham.

But the plan has split the local community, with some saying it will cripple the economy in the popular tourist destination.

Penalised

It comes after North Yorkshire County Council announced it will double council tax for second home owners from April.

Sean Kennedy-Tallis, 60, has owned a three-bedroom barn conversion in Giggleswick for 12 years as a second home. He says his council tax will double from £1,250 to £2,500 - and that he feels like he is being "penalised" even though he supports local businesses.