A CATTLE grid placed in a picturesque spot above Langcliffe has turned the area into a "builder's site", claim parish councillors.

The grid was placed at Winskill Stones, by the charity Plantlife.

The cattle grid, installed by county council contractors, does not have planning permission and parish councillors believe it spoils the area, is dangerously placed at the bottom of a right hand bend and vehicles could skid on it.

The charity has already been prosecuted for the unauthorised removal of limestone to lay this grid and was fined £1,750.

Chairman Chris Ellis said: "We have been battling because it is really a chocolate box area. It has been featured on calendars. Now it looks like a builder's tip. There is a gate to the side of the bridle path which is so stiff you cannot open it.

"If somebody in the village transgressed the rules and changed a window the national park would be down like a ton of bricks. Here it seems to be that there are so many different public bodies involved nothing is being done."

The first the parish council knew of the grid was in September 1998 when a retrospective planning application was made. However, in May 1999, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority resolved to refuse planning permission, and give Plantlife six months to carry out remedial works before enforcement action was taken.

Coun Ellis said: "Nothing has been done. It's just not good enough."

At a recent meeting, parish councillors agreed to send a strongly worded letter to the national park, urging the authority to take urgent action to uphold planning law and if necessary remove the offending works.

Peter Watson, of the national park, told the Herald the authority had had negotiations with Plantlife and was still threatening them with enforcement action if remedial work was not carried out.

He added: "Realistically they cannot entirely get rid of these works, as they could not control grazing on the Winskill area.

"The national park has sought to undo some of the worst aspects of the development, but in the end there will still be a cattle grid there to act as some means of controlling cattle.

"The situation is on its way to being resolved but there is still work to be carried out."