PLANS to bring a range of council and community facilities to the heart of Swaledale came nearer to realisation this week

Barclays Bank said it was willing to sell its redundant branch in Reeth to Richmondshire District Council at a "highly attractive price".

The council proposes to use the building as a community office, based on the successful scheme at Hawes where a variety of service providers are brought together under one roof.

In addition to access to council services and advice, it is hoped that the building will provide a range of other facilities for local residents. A public meeting to gather suggestions and gauge opinion will be held in November.

Mr Richard Good, chairman of the Upper Swaledale and Arkengarthdale business association, announced the news to members at their recent agm and said that he welcomed Barclays' decision.

Members of the business association were very supportive of the scheme and were keen to see the continuation of some sort of banking facility on the premises alongside the other services.

The closure of the Reeth branch attracted nationwide publicity earlier this year when the business association and local residents launched a campaign, drawing attention to the potentially damaging effects of the withdrawal of banking services in the dale.

When the bank closed its doors for the last time, negotiations over future use of the premises began almost immediately, culminating in the recent offer.

Of more than 150 Barclays branches closed on the same day it is understood that this is the only one so far to have resulted in concrete proposals although discussions are continuing in a handful of other locations.

Richmondshire District Council is now preparing a business plan for presentation to potential partners in the project, showing how the property might best be used and how income could be generated to ensure its future