Sir, – Sadly, it seems that planning authorities are required to protect bats more than people.

At the March meeting of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s planning committee the legal officer informed members that the possibility of digging up anthrax spores was not a planning issue.

The authority hadn’t even notified the Environmental Department at Craven District Council that older residents in Starbotton were very concerned that an extension to a garage in the village could lead to the excavation of anthrax contaminated carcases. But it would have been a planning issue if there had been any chance of bats being disturbed.

The Association of Rural Communities understands that the environmental department at Craven District Council has now been informed by a resident – and it is hoped that tests will be carried out to ascertain if infected carcasses were buried at that site before any excavations take place.

That’s the least that can be done to allay the fears of residents in Starbotton and to make sure that Wharfedale is protected from an outbreak of such a deadly disease.

PIP LAND (Ms) The Association of Rural Communities.