New national park HQ given go-ahead

Plans for a new national park authority headquarters and ranger depot have been approved.

The North York Moors National Park was granted permission by North Yorkshire Council to build the combined facility in Helmsley – though some residents voiced opposition.

Tom Hind, the chief executive of the national park authority, said the organisation remained "committed to being a good neighbour".

Helmsley had been home to the headquarters for 50 years "and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the town", he added.

The facility is set to be built off Rickle Drive, on land designated for employment.

But a number of local people claimed it would harm their community, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

At a meeting of the council's Thirsk and Malton area planning committee on Thursday, resident Jean Harrod warned the development would turn Rickle Drive into an industrial estate road.

The authority had "101 staff, their cars, trucks, minibuses, vans, trailers, plus visitor cars", Ms Harrod said.

"How could all that traffic not dramatically increase the risk of harm to our community?"

Councillor George Jabbour, who represents Helmsley, described Rickle Drive as a "quiet residential area where the community enjoys a peaceful life".

He called for the application to be co-ordinated with planned housing developments on two adjacent sites.

However, members of the committee voted in favour of the application by four to two.

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