PLANS for new toilets for Kettlewell have been approved by the national park's planning committee despite objections from local residents and business owners.

The design incorporates a community office, a covered bus shelter, ranger's office and public transport information.

Craven District Council has given a grant of £100,000 towards the development of the toilets which replace "stinking" old facilities.

Additional funding will come from other sources including North Yorkshire County Council to fund the community and ranger's office and integrated bus shelter.

Letters of support for the scheme have been received by the authority including a letter from Ray Wilkes, of the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group, who said they would strongly welcome the proposal.

He said: "It is well estab-lished that adequate waiting facilities are necessary to attract people to use bus services and that bus users spend more per head than people arriving by car."

But not everyone has been happy with the proposal. A letter of objection has been received from Colin and Lesley Barguss of the Racehorses Hotel, who argued the development would have a detrimental effect on their business because six of their letting bedrooms and restaurant overlooking the toilets.