THE development of Catterick Garrison town centre will be discussed at a meeting next week.

The Ministry of Defence will outline plans to provide more services and facilities in the town at a meeting of Richmond Business and Tourism Association (RBTA), on Wed-nesday.

RBTA secretary Martin Worner said huge levels of investment would be pumped into Catterick in coming years.

"This will obviously impact on local communities and economies," he said.

"The meeting at the RBTA will be, it is hoped, the first of many to explore the possible ways forward.

"Leyburn, Bedale, North-allerton and Darlington are also towns which could be impacted by this development and members of these communities may also be interested in attending this meeting."

RBTA member Stuart Parsons said: "The creation of a new town centre at Catterick will be a unique challenge and opportunity for Richmond.

"We will have to find ways of working together and of driving the economies of the two settlements forward."

The Army is planning to expand the town to meet the needs of soldiers stationed at what has become Europe's biggest base.

The meeting takes place on Wednesday at 6pm in the King's Head Hotel, Richmond.