THE people behind a bid to set up a charitable trust to run Richmond's former railway station will meet to decide how they will present the idea to the local authority.

After a five-and-a-half-hour debate behind closed doors on Wednesday night, Richmondshire District Council decided it wanted more information on two of the four bids to revitalise the historic building.

However, councillors have also requested more information on the charitable trust, which could be fronted by the Richmond Station Group, set up to represent the public's views on the building's future.

"The trust's objectives are to preserve the building and supervise what takes place inside it," said council chief executive Harry Tabiner.

"They would hold the building either by purchasing it or leasing it from the district council; they may also wish to work in conjunction with one of the council's two preferred bidders, but as the idea is still in its infancy these discussions have not yet started."

Richmond Station Group spokesman Keith Byfield said: "It's a bit of a curate's egg, really.

"We are pleased the council is prepared to look at the idea of a charitable trust, but remain concerned that a pub remains part of the other proposals as it is something we are strongly against."

Meanwhile, Richmond Civic Society has confirmed it has written to English Heritage, requesting that the old station is given Grade I-listed status.

"At the moment it is Grade II*-listed, which gives it a degree of protection," said chairman Bev Joicey.

"However, what we should remember is that this is said to be one of the most significant collections of railway buildings in the North-East of England."