SEDBERGH Parish Council has kick-started efforts to clear up rubbish left behind at the site which was once home to well-known town character Lester Garnett.

Mr Garnett, who is currently in hospital, has been told by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority that he must leave his run-down caravan near the River Rawthey by July next year.

The 60-year-old self-confessed alcoholic has lived at the site since 1995 without planning permission and his appeal against the decision was thrown out following a public inquiry.

Vice-chairman of the parish council Dorothy Blair attended the inquiry and spoke against the habitation of the site, which is shielded by trees off the A684 road to Garsdale.

At a meeting of the council last week, Coun Blair told members that the Planning Inspectorate had ruled that the YDNPA had acted properly in serving the enforcement notice.

Coun Blair said: "I went to that inquiry and, as you know, Lester was represented by Don Hoult. He wasn't against it (Mr Garnett not remaining at the site.)

"He was using it as a tool so the authorities would do something about Lester's situation.

"Having said that, I think we are going to have to do

something about that site and I am quite happy to meet with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

"We are going to have to do it before the leaves come on the trees - otherwise things will get hidden again. After all, we are trying to encourage people to use Sedbergh and walk out to Farfield."

Coun Eileen Scarr commented: "If there are rats there, something needs doing."

Clerk John Stanton suggested that Mr Garnett's future housing needs in Sedbergh would eventually need addressing, although some councillors said he would not accept help and that the council did not have the power to tackle them.

"The man's long term welfare is going to be a different thing altogether," said Mr Stanton.

As some members inquired of the current whereabouts of Mr

Garnett, it emerged that he was in Westmorland General Hospital, having had a brain haemorrhage.

Coun Steve Longlands told members: "He was sat out the front having a fag when we went there the other day." The council agreed to contact the YDNPA with a view to finding out what could be done about the state of the site.