PLANS for a new holiday park in a village near York have been blocked over fears it would damage the appearance of the countryside.

The scheme at Moor Closes, in Elvington, would have seen six yurts – whose design is based on buildings used by Mongolian tribes – created as holiday accommodation for tourists taking short city-breaks. The land was previously owned by the Ministry of Defence and housed US Air Force personnel based at Elvington Airfield during the 1950s.

City of York Council planners refused permission after ruling the scheme would “harm the open character and appearance of the Green Belt”, while they also said the lack of public transport would mean too many extra car journeys in the area being made by holidaymakers.