sad story failed to persuade members of Craven council's planning committee to lift restrictions preventing the sale of a Cowling bungalow.

At the committee's meeting on Monday, Cowling parish council member Muriel Gall-agher told councillors the story of Bill and Brenda Harrison, owners of Billy's Bungalow, on Cowling Hill Lane.

She explained how the couple had intended to stay in the bungalow after retiring from farming and keep a little stock. The couple's son Matthew took over the farm.

"But the gentleman (Bill) became ill and had more or less to rely on his wife to do things," said Muriel. "Then, believe it or not, she was knocked down by a vehicle in Cross Hills, which made her incapacitated."

Brenda's health has deteriorated and the couple would like to sell the bungalow to move to Skipton, closer to the medical care she requires.

However, it was believed that a council regulation restricting the use of the bungalow to an agricultural user, would hamper the sale of the house.

The council's recommendation was to delay removal of the restriction, for up to six months, until the Harrisons had proved that they had experienced difficulties selling the bungalow.

Committee member, Cllr Joan Ibbotson hit back: "It is going to incur extra expenses, which after six months would prove nothing - everybody knows how much advertising costs."

But the committee voted in favour of the recommendation and left the restriction in place.

A neighbour's worries about loss of privacy and a septic tank persuaded Craven council to postpone plans for a cottage conversion in Cowling.

Plans had been drawn up to convert an outbuilding to a cottage and construct a new garage at Coach House on Carr Head Hall.

But Rachel Hudson, owner of Woody End, has had problems with her septic tank.

Vandalism has caused it to now have to be used as a cess pit. And she claims it will have to be replaced by a new tank only three metres from the proposed site.

'Unfair and unacceptable intrusions' to her privacy, would be caused by inhabitants of a new house being able to look into several downstairs rooms and her bedroom, she states.

The planning committee agreed to defer any decisions on the plans until they had visited the proposed site.

Cross Hills is to get a new bowling club. Plans to demolish the existing building and construct a replacement were approved by the planning committee. The building will have high-level windows to the toilet, kitchen and bar areas, so that it will not look into neighbouring properties.

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