National park authority officers called the police today after the landlady of a Yorkshire Dales pub refused to allow them to enter to conduct an inspection.

Jo Cox, owner of the Moorcock Inn, at Garsdale, near Hawes, would not allow two enforcement officers from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) to carry out a compliance visit at the premises.

The planned inspection was later called off after the officers waited several hours for police to attend, but they did not arrive.

The visit was part of enforcement action taken by the authority after Ms Cox carried out building work without planning permission.

As well as opening a small tearoom in the former manager’s flat at the rear of the building, the bar area is being used by the owner as her living room.

The landlady appealed to the Planning Inspectorate over the enforcement action, but this was rejected.

Two enforcement notices have been issued which require her to stop using parts of the building as a tearoom and self-contained accommodation.

She must also stop using areas of the pub’s former bar area as her home, as well as removing a staircase, partitions, and fixtures and fittings associated with the building being used as residential accommodation.

Ms Cox confirmed to the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she would not allow the enforcement officers into the building.
The landlady said that making the changes to the building were the only way she could run a viable business amid a decline in trade, a rise in costs and difficulties finding staff.  She added: “I’m just trying to make a living, look after my children, look after my parents. I feel that I haven’t been listened to and just been railroaded along.  I keep asking for someone to come and sit down with me and find a way forward but they won’t.  I’ve asked if they want to see everything shut down here because that’s what going to happen.”

Ms Cox said she launched a petition to highlight the support for her stance, which she said had been signed by more than 150 locals and visitors.

Andrew Murday, member champion for development management at the YDNPA, confirmed that two officers visited the Moorcock Inn to try to check compliance with two enforcement notices. He added: “The date for compliance was October 14 following the Planning Inspectorate’s decision to dismiss appeals against the enforcement notices. The notices relate to the inn having been converted from a public house to a residential dwelling, and the conversion of managers’ accommodation to a new holiday let and tea room, without public consultation or planning consent. Unfortunately, we were unable to carry out a monitoring visit, as entry to the building was denied for a second time. However, our officer was able to speak in person to the proprietor, and we will contact her again in due course to discuss next steps.”

It is understood the landlady could now face criminal prosecution for refusing to allow the officers to enter.