FOURTEEN people face life on the dole if a row over the lease on the building where they work is not resolved by November.

The Richmond Garden and Farm Supply Centre has been in the town's former railway station for almost 30 years. But owner Mike Pattison has now given notice to quit because the local authority has told him it is an inappropriate use in an area designated for leisure, and won't be renewing his lease.

As a result, he says he has no option but to close and make all his staff redundant.

"There are no other buildings in the area suitable for our purposes," he said.

He had hoped to keep going for a few more years until his retirement.

Richmondshire District Council has already started a hunt for new tenants, advertising the building in the Estates Gazette, requesting approaches from "developers, operators and occupiers".

Mr Pattison said: "We have been told we are not suitable as the garden centre is not a leisure-based operation - but then neither is the bus station next door.

"We have to hope that there is still time for a rethink and that the council will be willing to discuss things further."

But council chief executive Harry Tabiner said: "Our preference for leisure use is no secret, in both our current local plan and our projections for 2006, the area is zoned for leisure.

"We cannot simply kick Mr Pattison out. As a businessman paying rates, he is aware he has rights, but he has given us notice to quit, which we have accepted."