UPPER Wensleydale businesses had the full attention of Lord Haskins last Friday, when he visited Hawes as a board member of Yorkshire Forward.

He was escorted by Mrs Heather Hancock, the regional development agency's environment director and a former chief executive of the Yorkshire Dales national park.

"We were delighted that Lord Haskins agreed after persuasion to come to Hawes," said Mrs Kate Empsall, chairman of the Upper Wensleydale business and tourism association. "I had stressed to the organisers that the dale is deeply rural, whereas Skipton and Settle are much more accessible to larger populated areas and have a better infrastructure.

"He listened intently to what we had to say about our plans for a diversified package in a partnership for moving forward."

All those meeting Lord Haskins were part of the UWBTA: Dr Peter Annison, also chairman of the Upper Wensleydale community partnership; Ms Angela le Grice, community office manager; Fran Raper, manager of HSBC bank in Hawes; Mrs Ruth Annison, a director of the Wensleydale Railway Company; District Coun Colin Bailey, and County Coun John Blackie.

It was stressed that the area had had a problem before foot-and-mouth, with declining farm incomes; an auction mart which had had an £11m income, and an outdated reliability on walking. These products had not been sold since footpaths closed nationally on March 1.

Firefighting action had been taken by the business association supporting its members with meetings, newsletters, information on help with business rates, VAT and income tax deferrments, as well as grants of £2000 and £15,000 from Yorkshire Forward.

The area has plans for the future, developed in the community investment prospectus, involving all aspects of work and support from manufacturing, to serviced work, agriculture and tourism ready and waiting for funds. A diversified package, branded as Wensleydale products which could bring trade for 12 months a year, could be sold on-line, but needed promotion to a new and wider market, and it cost money to employ a marketing specialist to co-ordinate all aspects of trade.

Ms le Grice stressed that access to money was complicated and there were too many hurdles, all with different forms which needed simplifying. The community office had, over three years, increased its foot fall from 3,000 to more than 10,000 people a year, proving a local need.

Lord Haskins agreed to look into to the matter of simplification.

It was also stressed that re-instating the Hawes-Gardsale rail link to the Settle-Carlisle line could bring in many visitors without bringing in more cars on the narrow roads.

It was pointed out to Lord Haskins that the Strategic Rail Authority had a budget of more than £250m and had spent very little so far on re-opening lines and stations.

As the main income season came an an end, it was a long way to the next input of income at Christmas and then a long way to next Easter. It was feared that some businesses did not have the reserves to survive.

County Coun John Blackie explained that the isolated area had incomplete mobile phone access and was a long way from many leisure facilities needed by visitors and local people, including a swimming pool.

"We felt that Lord Haskins did listen, asked many probing questions and took away thoughts of an area that had plans and wanted to get started, but needed some financial help. We shall follow up the meeting by asking what Yorkshire Forward can do to help our plans come to fruition." said Mrs Empsall.

His visit continued when he met personnel from the Yorkshire Dales national park.