PLANNING councillors in Ryedale warned this week they will get tough with the growing number of applications for development being put in after the work has been done.

Coun Arthur Aslett's view that the district council was "getting far too many retrospective applications" was supported by other members of the authority's northern area planning committee meeting at Ryedale House.

He added: "These people run the risk of enforcement action being taken against them."

Coun Debbie Aubrook said there was a danger in the council approving retrospective applications, of developers being seen to be "getting away with it" by parish and town councils.

Three applications went before the committee for retrospective permission, but Anthony Winship, head of legal services, told the committee: "You cannot refuse an application on the grounds that it is retrospective."

One plan, to convert a store to a cottage at the rear of 18 Market Place, Pickering, was deferred for a site visit after Coun Linda Cowling said that access problems made it "totally unsuitable" for a dwelling, especially for emergency vehicles.

Pickering Town Council had objected claiming the building was "inappropriate" for conversion to a home.

A second retrospective plan for the erection of stables on land at Newton-on-Rawcliffe was also deferred for a site visit.

Planning officers, who had recommended refusal, said it was not considered that the need for additional storage on the site would outweigh the visual harm caused by the scale of the development.

Approval was given to install a sewage treatment plant at The Apple Tree Inn at Marton, despite several letters of objection from residents about the scheme and the loss of two trees - a maple and an apple - which it was believed were covered by preservation orders.

Members were told that the trees, felled to make way for the plant, were outside the tree preservation order area.

One resident, Jonathan Cook, said the developers of the inn, Church Hill Developments, had carried out "the deliberate destruction of a legally protected orchard".

He added: "The villagers fought hard for the orchard to be protected and both the tree preservation officer and the planning department were telephoned by various residents."

But councillors were told that planners had been using an old ordnance survey map when they concluded that the site was covered by a tree preservation order; a modern map showed the trees were not protected. This discovery was criticised by Coun Aubrook.

She said: "Marton is a village that cares about its environment and Ryedale District Council opens itself up to great criticism. This is a lesson for the council."

She added: "I have heard the word 'maladministration' spoken of in connection with this matter."

The committee deferred a decision on plans for an information centre, shop and tea room at the Yorkshire Lavender Farm, Terrington. Coun Robert Wainwright was concerned about the scheme being seen as "development by stealth" because of on-going schemes on the site.

The parish council objected to the "continued expansion" of the site by the venture's owner Nigel Goodwill.

The parish authority said: "At the outset, the parish council was very concerned about the size the development would become. Bit by bit, it has grown and it is now approximately twice as big as the original application and we feel there is more to come."

However, the scheme was backed by the Yorkshire Tourist Board which said it would improve the quality of the visitor experience at Yorkshire Lavender.

Updated: 11:17 Thursday, February 07, 2002