NATIONAL Park chiefs are to meet this week to consider the sale of its tourist centre in Reeth.

The former Barclays Bank building in the village closed last year when the financial giant announced it was axing a number of rural branches.

However, the bank has since redeemed itself in the eyes of the community by offering to sell its old building to Richmondshire District Council at an "advantageous price".

The deal would allow the authority to set up another one-stop-shop community office, similar to projects which already operate at Hawes and Leyburn.

It is hoped the project - already named Hudson House - will include an element of low-cost housing, a computer room, an office where residents can pay bills, and a youth club.

However, another important part of the operation would be a tourist information centre, staffed by National Park employees.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will invest £50,000 in the project and expects to pay an annual rent of about £3,000.

But the scheme is likely to mean the existing National Park centre will become surplus to requirements, and a meeting at Cracoe Village Hall tomorrow will be asked to look at alternative uses.

Each will depend on planning permission, but options include conversion to shops, a cafe or either, mixed with residential use on the top floor.

However, the authority's officers point out that legal advice emphasises the National Park is obliged to look for the best price possible for the building. They are therefore recommending planners are asked to debate all three.

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Hudson House trustees, Richard Good, said he hoped the new operation will be open by next year.

"One of the main aims is to provide good IT facilities for Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, to provide an after-school computer club, training courses for local people and specialist training for businesses.

"All the partners will pay either rent or fees to use the building. It will not all be paid for by council tax, as has been suggested."