I AGREE with John Blackie’s reservations with regard to the expansion of the Yorkshire Dales National Park into North Lancashire and the fringes of Cumbria (D&S Times, Nov 20).

He has concerns about spiralling house prices once the new areas are located within the “Ram’s Horns”. There are several picturesque villages occupied by commuters working in Lancaster – they are no doubt rejoicing at the news because the value of their properties will rocket.

This week, I was discussing with residents of West Burton with regard to joining them once again carol singing. In 1991, my wife and I purchased the village post office and stores and a house across the village green for £80,000. The local residents sang at the top half of the village one evening and the lower half the next evening. Three years ago, I saw my old house advertised at £465,000.

During my carol-singing discussion, several of the residents estimated that this year only 50 per cent of the houses will be occupied – second homes and holiday lets abound.

A downside of acquiring a second home in upper Wensleydale is that it can take one hour to reach Hawes from the A1.

The attraction of purchasing a second home on the west side of the newly expanded park is that these villages are only 30 minutes away from the M6 junction at Forton/Galgate.

So, fuelled by the affluence of the Home Counties, house prices in the area look set to continue rising, abolishing any home-owning dreams of the young folks who used to be our paper boys and girls.

Ken Walsh, Tunstall, Richmond