HAVING read your story (D&S Times, August 11) about the folly castle at the Forbidden Corner, which the Yorkshire Dales National Park wishes to see demolished, I set out to look for this mock castle which, according to planners, “has introduced an unacceptable element of pastiche development which has the potential to confuse the public’s understanding of the authentic historical landscape in this area of the National Park” and “which prejudices the significance of the authentic historic buildings and their place and role in the landscape.”

I spent much of Sunday afternoon criss-crossing the Tupgill Estate along the network of public footpaths in the area, failing to spot this blot on the landscape until late afternoon from a viewpoint near Caldbergh.

From that distance, it was impossible to judge the degree of architectural pastiche which so concerns the planning officers.

The planners should perhaps be reminded that since the 18th-century, the landscape has been peppered with “pastiche development”

in a variety of gothic revival and mock medieval styles in the form of towers, eye-catchers and follies of every sort.

North Yorkshire has a fine collection of follies and folly landscapes, notably Studley Royal and Hackfall, and owner Colin Armstrong deserves plaudits rather than brickbats for continuing in this grand tradition.

Perhaps Mr Armstrong’s greatest folly was to proceed without planning permission, and I look forward to reading your report on the outcome of his appeal in due course.

Tony Robinson, Northallerton