A scheme to turn a shop and overflow tea-room in the Heartbeat village of Goathland into an exhibition centre has been rejected.

Applicants F C H and S Wordsworth proposed to alter and extend premises at West Mount in the village.

But the North York Moors National Park Authority's planning committee rejected the scheme - going against the advice of their officers.

Committee members felt the proposals would result in too much additional activity in the centre of the village, and also objected to the design of the exhibition centre.

Charles Wordsworth, the man behind the scheme, told the Evening Press: "We have no choice but to appeal."

He said: "I think it's very difficult when the committee makes a decision against the recommendations of its own officers."

Mr Wordsworth said: "I think it was a peculiar decision on this matter, and I think they were wrong."

He said: "There are serious moves in Goathland to manage tourism better. There are a large number of visitors and, inevitably, there are challenges as a result of that.

"I think what we wanted to do would have helped - giving visitors what they want, in the place that they want it."

Mr Wordsworth opened the existing Goathland Exhibition Centre at Church Farm on the western edge of the village in 1995 in order to diversify the income of Thornhill Farm, his home.

The centre includes displays devoted to Heartbeat, the long-running Yorkshire Television series in which Goathland features as Aidensfield.

Although 1.5 million Heartbeat fans flock to Goathland every year, Mr Wordsworth says the location of the existing exhibition centre means it has been difficult to achieve anything beyond break-even.

Mr Wordsworth said: "The whole point of the centre is to show people that there's a great deal more to the village and the North York Moors than Heartbeat.

"Unfortunately, because of geographical bad luck, we are in the wrong place at the moment and we've spent four years failing to attract people up from the other end of the village.

"By having the Heartbeat part of the exhibition in the heart of the village, where people actually are, we would have been able to point them to where they can find out the story of the real Goathland."

Objections to the scheme were lodged by four householders.

They included Mr P C Lodge, of Harwood, The Green, who stated: "With 1.5 million people descending on a village of 450 inhabitants, the present situation is intolerable."

He added: "The village has already reached saturation point in terms of parking."

Mr M R North, of Rose Cottage, stated: "The last ten years have seen Goathland transformed from a quiet village to a television set.

"The village is suffering erosion of green areas and a drop in the quality of life from the numerous cars and visitors."

He added: "The exhibition centre should remain at the church end, with some sensitive car parking being provided."

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