PEOPLE have lodged almost 500 complaints about alleged defiance of planning controls in the Harrogate district during the past year.

The figures are revealed in Harrogate Borough Council's annual planning enforcement and appeals department report. Twenty-seven enforcement notices were issued demanding people obey planning rules.

Of those, 22 were about unauthorised development and changes of use. Six involved listed buildings and one demanded urgent repairs be made to a neglected property.

Chief enforcement officer Alistair Wood's report said there was compliance with several enforcement notices, most notably reinstatement of a chimney at the Grade II*-listed Thorpe Underwood Hall between Harrogate and York, and removal of a house at Huby, near Harrogate.

Six people appealed against enforcement notices, but in each case, an independent government inspector dismissed them. One case involved the unauthorised development of a compound near homes in the Regent Avenue area of Harrogate.

Mr Wood said the past year was one of non-stop activity and forecasted that the next year will be as busy.

Among cases resolved were:

l Change of use to a builder's depot stopped with all material removed from land at Fearby, near Masham,

* Unauthorised extension of a house at Galphay, near Ripon,

* Tipping of waste halted at Ripon Road, Kirkby Malzeard, near Ripon, and the issue referred to North Yorkshire County Council for action,

* UPVC windows in a listed building replaced at Magdalens Road, Ripon,

*Unauthorised erection of netting barrier at Ripon City Football Club, Mallorie Park Drive,resolved by planning permission,

* Illegal display of advertisements at a cricket pavilion, Studley Road, Ripon, resolved by granting advert consent with reduction in the number and size of adverts displayed,

* Illegal display of advertisement for car boot sales removed at Buttersyke Bar, near Pannal, Harrogate,

* Use of land as a caravan site halted after enforcement action at Minskip, near Boroughbridge,

* Neon sign removed from outside bar in Parliament Street, Harrogate,

* Banner advertisement removed from Safeway supermarket, Station Parade, Harrogate,

* Replacement tree planting following removal of trees in conservation area at Pannal village pond, Mill Lane, Harrogate.