THE organisation behind a campaign to rescue Richmond's former railway station has called a meeting for next week when the public will be asked to back a community buyout.

Owner Richmondshire District Council has offered the old farm and garden supply centre on the banks of the River Swale to the Richmondshire Building Preservation Trust on a 999-year lease.

The authority is requesting a £10,000 downpayment and a further £52,500 from future operating profits to cover the market value of the building.

Subject to clarification of some of the details, the trust board has indicated it is willing to accept the deal.

Anyone who has an opinion about the project is welcome at the town hall from 7.15pm on Thursday, when the trust hopes the community will give its verdict on the offer.

It will also outline how it hopes to proceed with its vision for the building, which could include a cinema, a number of craft shops and workshops, a caf and restaurant, meeting rooms and auditorium, a micro-brewery and a visitor centre for the award-winning Swaledale Cheese Company, which is based in the town's Gallowfields Industrial Estate.

Trust chairman Jim Jack said: "In a sense, this is where the hard work really begins and it could be a long road.

"We are hoping to attract large-scale funders to the project, which we believe will enhance opportunity and heritage access in our district.

"However, we realise the only certain way of getting the project under way is to raise the capital needed ourselves."

The trust will establish a number of working groups to take the project forward.

One will concentrate on administration while two others will concentrate on generating funding, either through sponsors or public fundraising.

Events planned in the station include a book fair on July 4 and a music concert, for which a date has yet to be confirmed.

Meanwhile, another working group will focus on the building's heritage to ensure that when the old station reopens, the key role it has played in the town's affairs during the past 100 years is not forgotten.

"We hope, if all goes according to plan, we can expect a big increase in activity on this project after Easter,'' said trust member Donald Cline.