A TOURIST attraction near Bedale has won conditional planning consent for more than 100 much needed parking spaces, despite concerns about the effect on the surrounding area.

Thorp Perrow Arboretum, a collection of more than 1,000 species founded 70 years ago by the late Sir Leonard Ropner, was once known only to tree experts and was only rarely visited by lay people.

Over the past decade, however, it has been gradually opened up to the public and school parties and a new permanent tearoom and shop were opened two years ago to cope with the demand.

But parking has not kept pace with the growth and the arboretum has been investigating ways of alleviating congestion as well as protecting an avenue of horse chestnut trees from damage.

A spokesman said the roots of the horse chestnuts could become compacted because cars were being parked beneath them. At times traffic congestion was such that there were fears that cars could be parked outside the site on the road between Bedale and Snape, leading to hazards.

Now Hambleton development control committee has approved a plan by the arboretum to create 115 car parking and four coach spaces in a field south of the avenue of horse chestnuts.

A separate entrance and exit from the existing drive are to be formed. Along the southern boundary of the new parking area will be a 4ft high embankment to act as screening and a 40-yard slope to the existing ground level of the field. New tree planting is proposed to blend with the existing landscape setting.

Planning officers said the design was a simple one which would not harm the historic landscape, but a condition should be imposed to ensure that the tree planting scheme met the requirements of English Heritage.

Coun David Smith, the local member, expressed doubts and said: "I have grave reservations that this is an intrusion into open countryside. This is a large site and I believe there are better ways of increasing traffic flows.

"I would need some evidence that parking under trees causes damage to those trees in any way."

But Coun David Webster said: "It's an excellent idea. From the north side you cannot see into the car park.

"To my knowledge the arboretum is unique in this district. People come from far and wide to the arboretum and we should be giving it all the encouragement we can."

Snape Parish Council said it was concerned about access to and from the road, but planning officers thought this could be met by enforcing existing planning conditions.