Sir, – Richmond and District Civic Society is right to be amazed and dismayed that there is to be an ultra-modern dwelling in the Leyburn, Quarry Hills Conservation Area – as are Leyburn Town Council and the many local people who have objected to this planning application for more than three years.

The planning department completely disregarded all the conservation issues flagged up during that time, having backed the committee into a corner by focussing on the minor details of the roof and back windows, rather than considering the inappropriateness of the building as a whole.

Why were they so worried that they might lose if it went to appeal, as there were sufficient grounds at the first appeal for the Inspector to reject the application? That is a question which needs answering.

Many of us in Leyburn have totally lost confidence in a planning department which does such an odd “about turn” without a proper and believable explanation.

I can no longer respect the councillors on that committee who were persuaded they had been wrong last October, when 11 of them unanimously objected to the suitability of the design in this conservation area, and then withdrew their objections.

Leyburn has been let down by Richmondshire District Council planning department.

SHEILA SIMMS Quarry Hills Lane, Leyburn