RESISTANCE to the proposed closure of a Dales youth hostel is gathering momentum, with another two tiers of local government adding their voice to those calling for a rethink.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) lost £5m because of foot-and-mouth crisis last year. Income dried up when the countryside was closed at the height of the crisis - putting the association's development programme in jeopardy.

Rather than postpone work on improving the organisation's facilities, the board has chosen to close ten hostels around the UK.

Aysgarth, in the heart of Wensleydale, is among them. But, since the news was confirmed last Wednesday, local businesses have been leading the lobby demanding the YHA thinks again.

Richmondshire District Council leader and Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority member Councillor John Blackie - who runs a holiday accommodation business in Hawes - was among the first to condemn the move.

The Upper Wensleydale Business Association also questioned why hostels should close to pay for improving those which remain.

North Yorkshire County Council also voiced concern over the weekend.

Chief executive Jeremy Walker said: "The authority believes the hostel network is vital for the promotion of inclusive, sustainable tourism, and makes an important contribution to the local economy.

"We have written to the YHA, asked that it considers the points the county council has made and stressed the need to keep hostels open wherever possible."

Aysgarth parish councillor Terry Jones - who also represents Leyburn on the district council - also questioned the wisdom of the move yesterday.

He said: "Why the YHA wants to close a hostel in a honey-pot location like Aysgarth is beyond most people who live here.

"This has to be one of the most popular locations in the Dales, but the YHA has decided it should close to pay for refurbishments elsewhere. What we cannot understand is why the YHA feels it has to pay for all its improvements at once."