OVER many months it has been our sad duty to report on many holidaymakers who booked what they thought was an idyllic holiday in the Dales only to find that they had landed in a nightmare.

The death knell finally appears to have sounded for the Holiday Barn Activity Program and not a moment too soon.

But what has struck is the way the authorities have appeared powerless to act. We have long documentation of this firm's appalling record yet the company has got away with renting out shocking properties for so long.

The company's record will have left a poor impression of the Dales in the eyes of disgruntled holidaymakers. How likely are they to look to the Dales again and to the several highly reputable holiday cottage companies in the area, companies which have impeccable standards and rent out wonderful homes.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect is that there is nothing to stop the people behind this flawed company from setting up and starting out again under a new name.

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