AYSGARTH is in danger of losing a vital section of its tourist accommodation with the announcement that the Youth Hostels Association is considering the closure of its hostel there.

"It's vital we keep this open because it gives us a wider range of accommodation in Wensleydale and because of the knock-on effect of any closure on the local economy," said Kate Empsall, chairman of the Upper Wensleydale Business and Tourism Association.

And County Coun John Blackie, vice-chairman elect of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: "I am very concerned that a national association like the YHA is sending out the wrong message and I am very disappointed."

He described as premature the YHA's board meeting on Saturday, March 9, to decide which hostels to close and he called for Government involvement at a time when those in the countryside were trying to recover from the devastating impact of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. The YHA is also considering closing the hostels at Kettlewell and Linton.

In a letter to the county council, the YHA estimated that it lost £5m on a turnover of £30m as a result of the closure of the countryside last year. It accepted closing such hostels would diminish the capacity of many to enjoy Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales and would have an impact upon the local economy.

School groups and others use the hostels as an inexpensive introduction to new areas, Mrs Empsall said, adding that many of them would return in later years, often with their families.

The business association has encouraged the YHA to apply to Yorkshire Forward for a grant towards refurbishing the Aysgarth hostel.

The YHA wants to bring all its hostels up to the modern standards that people now expect.

It proposes to do this by selling some of those which haven't been refurbished and using that money to upgrade others, stating that the support from various agencies, including Regional Development Boards, would not be sufficient to make good their losses.

The hostel at Aysgarth has an English Tourist Council one-star rating and the toilets and showers especially require upgrading. A YHA spokesman said that the hostel required a lot of investment to refurbish it and was nine miles from that at Hawes, and eight miles from the recently refurbished one at Grinton.

Many people do return to the hostel at Aysgarth because of its clean and high standards and there were 6,437 overnight stays registered there in 2000, adding up to a profit, even if not a large one. When it was opened at weekends last month, it proved very popular for those returning to enjoy the dales.

Kerry White, who has managed Aysgarth hostel for more than four happy years, said that much of the fresh produce was bought from local trades people, including milk from Dents of Walden, meat from Hartles in West Burton, and fruit and vegetables from a Leyburn supermarket.

"I still feel the hostel has huge potential and it would be a great loss to the association and area if it did close," she said. Last year, the hostel should have celebrated its 50th anniversary at Aysgarth but did not, owing to foot-and-mouth.

Staff at the Palmer Flatts Hotel next door were shocked at the news of a possible closure. They, like many others in the dale, know that those staying at youth hostels give a lot of trade to local pubs, restaurants and shops.

Coun Blackie said that those visitors who came into the dales by public transport spent three times as much locally as did those travelling by car. "This is the sort of 'green' tourism we should be encouraging," he added.

Richmondshire District Council resources committee on Wednesday unanimously agreed to raise its "considerable concern" about the proposed closure with the YHA, Yorkshire Forward and central Government