A major Sedbergh tourist attraction was this week given the go-ahead to expand but can expect to come under closer scrutiny from planners in future following complaints from nearby residents.

The Farfield Mill Arts and Heritage Centre won planning permission to turn level four of the former mill building into a gallery and eight workshops - in addition to retrospective planning permission for other works already carried out.

Permission was granted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority planning committee, on Tuesday provided that the applicants entered into a Section 106 Agreement aimed at regulating parking and to minimise disruption, access and obstruction to neighbouring properties.

The Farfield Residents Association compiled a catalogue of complaints about the centre, ranging from access problems to their homes and disruption by visitors.

The committee also agreed to create an independently-chaired monitoring committee, which would work to try to resolve issues between all parties.

Restrictions were also placed on the opening hours of the centre, which can open between 9am and 5.30pm. Of the 24 days a year it can stay open until 11pm, this must be no more than twice a month, and never twice in the same week.

Applicant Maureen Lamb, of the Sedbergh and District Buildings Preservation Trust, defended the centre and said the picture that had been painted of the problems had been far worse than they actually were.

She said the car park had only ever been full twice in a year.

Anne Pierson, a Sedbergh resident and former director of the Brewery Arts Centre at Kendal, said: "I believe Farfield can become what the Brewery became and immeasurably enrich the lives of the local community."

An objector to the scheme said Farfield Mill should not be compared with the Brewery, which was on the main street of Kendal and not in a rural hamlet.

To demonstrate his objection to the application, David Wilson, chairman of the Farfield Residents Association, opened his address by placing plastic cartons of milk on the table.

"It is impossible to fit a quart into a pint pot," said Mr Wilson, who welcomed the 106 Agreement, but said the fundamental problem of parking would remain.

"Either additional parking needs to be provided or the proposals need to be scaled down."

Authority member Dr Malcolm Petyt said he was impressed by what had been achieved at the centre and it was good for the area. However, he said previous applications had been mishandled and had been insensitive.

A tenant spoke of how the mill offered tradesmen and women the rare chance of taking over small-size, low-cost workspaces which allowed them to sell and exhibit to a far wider audience.

Authority member Wilf Fenton said: "One of my concerns is the record of non-compliance. I still feel the neighbours will get a raw deal."

Member Alex Bentley said if the application was to be bogged down with regulation the committee should refuse it. "If they are to make some success of it, they should be given some freedom," he said.

February 13, 2003 16:00