Stay of execution for Dales woman facing eviction

From the archive, first published Tuesday 9th Jan 2007.

A WOMAN who faced losing her home on Grassington Moor because the national park authority deemed it was an unauthorised occupation has won a stay of execution.

And there were clear signs that the tide could be turning in her favour as several members of the authority expressed their hope she wins her appeal against their own decision not to grant her planning approval to life at Mire House.

Sue Woodcock she was "amazed and relieved" that the authority members had voted not to pursue action to force her out of Mire House, an abandoned croft, until a planning inspector had ruled on her appeal against a refusal for planning permission to use the building as a house.

She was first refused planning permission to restore the former farmhouse in a prominent and remote location above Grassington in September 2005. Three months later a revised planning application was turned down by officers under delegated powers without ever coming before the planning committee.

But Mrs Woodcock appealed against that decision and has continued to live in the house.

The planning committee met this week to decide whether or not to give her six months to leave the property or face legal action.

But members said they saw little point in enforcing the decision not to allow the building to be used as a home until the decision of the planning inspector on Mrs Woodcock's appeal was known.

And several expressed regret that they had not granted her permission to live there in the first place.