Areas where housing development can place in the Yorkshire dales are being more tightly drawn around villages, the Association of Rural Communities (ARC) has claimed.

A spokesman said that development boundary lines shown in the park authority's draft planning blueprint - the local plan - have been tightened and, in some cases cut through people's gardens.

And barns and other buildings which could be converted into homes for local people were excluded in some cases.

"Yet the national park authority agreed this year that, where possible, the line should follow physical features. These would include walls, fences and roads," he added.

But the national park authority said the new boundaries made provision for 700 new homes.

A spokesman said: "In this draft local plan we have identified far more land for development than in the previous plan. The lines that have been drawn give the potential for 700 new buildings or conversions over the five-year plan.

"That is greatly in excess of demand and vastly increases the scope for affordable housing."

Lines that cut through gardens were to safeguard against further development in those gardens.

ARC supported the authority's policy of seeking to meet the housing needs of local people, particularly for affordable housing.

A spokesman for the Yorkshire Dales National Park said it had taken details to parish councils, parish forums and public meetings and published details in the media and its own community news sheet.

He urged people to look at the proposed draft, available for inspection at national park offices and via parish councils, and comment by noon on Wednesday (July 31).

Following the current consultation, a second draft deposit plan will be prepared and sent for further consultation. However, objections at that stage can only be made to items new to the second draft.