NATIONAL park authority members have been urged to show some "leeway" and allow a farm worker's house to be built in a remote hamlet.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will vote on plans for a new farm house, in Booze, Arkengarthdale, on Tuesday.

The application has been submitted by the Harker family, which has farmed on the remote hillside since 1945.

The three-bedroom house would be used by farm worker Trevor Atkinson.

Mr Atkinson, who lives in Teesside, travels daily to work on the farm.

He is hoping to move to Booze with his wife and children, so he can be more easily on-hand to help on the farm.

In a report, planning officer Darren McCreery recommends the application be refused.

He claims the applicant has not demonstrated an "essential need" for another full-time worker on the farm.

The plans would also be "harmful to the natural beauty" of the national park, Mr McCreery says.

The report states: "It is considered that the proposal does not demonstrate the appropriate level of need for the development in order to comply with local plan policy and central government guidance."

However, Hazel Harker has urged members to take a different view and allow the new property to be built.

Mr Atkinson, 41, who is Miss Harker's nephew, said: "It takes a lot of hard work to look after the Dales and obviously the national park authority reaps the benefits because we create an environment for people who want to come and visit.

"I think they should show a little bit of leeway when it comes to houses for key workers."

Last year, Royal Mail shocked customers living in Booze by announcing that it would no longer deliver their post for health and safety reasons.

Residents were told the road leading up to their houses was too steep, and could exacerbate the back injury of one of its employees.

Royal Mail later reconsidered the policy.

The applicants have the support of Upper Dales county councillor John Blackie.

He said: "It seems to me bizarre that the post man claimed health and safety reasons as to why he was not prepared to drive up and down the hill in August, yet the park authority expects the farm worker to drive up and down the hill in the depths of winter."