A MEETING tomorrow night will update a Dales market town on a partnership which residents hope will secure a police presence in the future while establishing new facilities for the community.

There was concern last year that Masham may not figure prominently in the North Yorkshire constabulary's long-term plans and that the town's police house could face an uncertain future.

As a result, talks began been between local officers and the community's leaders about how more use could be made of the building.

The discussion was then opened to the public at a forum in the town hall last December. Long-term proposals included establishing a community computer suite, a tourist information centre, Citizen's Advice Bureau and space to display details of job vacancies and local events.

A steering group was set up to decide which proposals were the most realistic and a second public meeting has been called at the town hall tomorrow, where the group will outline its findings.

"A bid for planning permission has been put together to go to Harrogate Borough Council, but the meeting is an opportunity for local people to tell us what they think," said chairman Mark Cunliffe-Lister.

"We are negotiating with the police over rent and we have a business plan in the pipeline, but we estimate we will need around £50,000 to set the project up.

"Of course, the police - who will retain a room in the building - will contribute to the renovation costs and there may be an opportunity to forge a partnership with the Women's Institute as their building closed recently - but we need to establish where the rest of the money is to come from."

Mr Cunliffe-Lister said he was optimistic about the proj-ect. "We put out a questionnaire earlier this year and there was a very good response," he said. "However, we would still like to see as many people as we can at the town hall for the meeting."

Doors open at the police house at 7pm tomorrow to give people a chance to examine the proposals. The public meeting follows at the town hall, at 7.30pm