A FANTASY park opened in the Yorkshire dales without permission went against all the national park stood for, a planning inquiry heard.

The hearing into the future of the popular Forbidden Corner, near Middleham, was told the development undermined the chief purpose of the national park authority - to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area.

Mr Mark Williams, senior area planning officer with the park, put a case supporting the authority's issuing of an enforcement notice to close the folly-style gardens to the public.

The inquiry, at the Middleham key centre on Tuesday and Wednesday, heard the fact that Forbidden Corner had opened to the public three years ago without permission came to light when complaints were made about traffic volumes.

The garden drew about 70,000 visitors last year, all arriving by private transport as the narrow lanes to the site were unsuitable for public vehicles.

Mr Williams said the development contravened local, county and national planning guidelines and caused serious problems to locals, including racehorses and farmstock, and damaged the environment.

"The Forbidden Corner is incompatible with the statutory purposes of the national park and causes problems for residents, users of the rights of way network and the character of the area," he said.

"While it may provide a visitor destination and a form of recreation, this is unrelated to the core qualities of the national park. The Forbidden Corner does not rely on the intrinsic natural beauty of the park for its attraction. Its appeal is in its unusual nature, it is a folly and, as such, could be located in numerous other locations."

Mr Harry Walton QC, who opened the case for Mr Colin Armstrong, owner and builder of the folly, said the issue hung on what was an acceptable number of visitors.

The garden enjoyed backing from many locals and a public consultation exercise had resulted in heavy support for the development staying open.

Planning applications relating to the site attracted 32 letters of objection from the public and 145 of support. In addition, 21 groups such as schools and brownie packs wrote to back the scheme and two supporting petitions were received, including one of 235 signatures submitted by the applicant.

The attraction also brought many visitors to other businesses in the area, which backed it.

"This is clearly not a case of a cowboy developer proceeding without planning permission," said Mr Walton.

The result of the inquiry is expected late this year.