A PACKED meeting has given a new steering group a mandate to press ahead with plans for a community office in the heart of Swaledale.

There were fears that Barclays could be sounding the death knell for Reeth's public facilities when it confirmed the village branch was one of the casualties in rationalisation plans announced early last year.

However, it has since offered the building to Richmondshire District Council at an "advantageous" price.

Since then, the authority has been trying to raise the cash to buy it - while consultant Hugh Rolo has been running through options for its future use.

A public meeting was called this week to give residents an opportunity to have their say.

About 50 attended, and most supported the principles of an office where people could pay council tax and rent, a tourist information facility, affordable homes on the first floor, a youth club and a computer room, where the community would have access to the Internet.

"It was a very positive meeting, with everyone appearing to be fully behind the scheme," said district councillor Richard Good, an Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Business Association member.

"The only note of caution - understandably - came from the owners of the post office, who felt it important there should be no overlap with their trade. I think everyone would agree with that," he said.

The next phase is to establish a steering group, including residents, representatives from the district council and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

Sources of funding will have to be set up, with the National Lottery and the European Union among the possibilities.