PROTESTORS have spoken out against proposals to convert Richmond's former station into a music venue and restaurant, claiming the scheme is a "screen for a night club."

The Richmond Station Group, which set itself up to promote "suitable" development of the Grade II listed nineteenth-century building, fears noise, litter and anti-social behaviour if the site becomes a club.

The would-be developer's identity has not been revealed by Richmondshire District Council, which owns the building, because of commercial sensitivity, but it has given a presentation on the proposals to residents and members of the protest group.

Keith Byfield, press officer for the RSG, said the scheme included a music venue with stage, 100-seat restaurant, two bars, an all-day cafe, ticket office and railway memorabilia shop.

He claimed that professional musicians had said high quality music groups were unlikely to come to Richmond because it was too small.

"The Richmond Station Group considers this to be a screen for a night club," said Mr Byfield. "The group knows that the station building has to be developed - we want it to be developed - but we want development in keeping with the area.

"We are talking about a beautiful area much-loved by families, a conservation area, with the station buildings themselves being Grade II listed. A night club there will drive people away from the town."

Plans to bus clients from Catterick, Richmond market place and Nun's Close because of limited parking on the station site would not be successful, he added.

The council, whose resources committee is due to discuss the future of the building on September 24, is believed to be due to draw up a formal shortlist of bidders, whose proposals would go before the authority at the end of October.

A council spokeswoman said the protesters' comments were premature, as the authority had not yet considered any bids in detail.

The station building has been empty since December, when Mike Pattison, who ran the Richmond Farm and Garden Centre there for nearly 20 years, left amid controversy.

Mr Pattison claimed the council had forced him out, while the authority insisted he had given notice to quit unprompted.