THE Mayor of Northallerton has confirmed that a proposal has been drawn up over the possible demolition of a historic building.

John Prest, who is also chairman of the Northallerton and Romanby joint burial committee, is inviting residents to air their views on the proposal, which concerns The Lodge in the cemetery.

The plan involves selling The Lodge and its grounds to developers who would convert it into houses or flats. The building is expensive to maintain and selling it would help ease the financial strain on the committee.

In a letter to The Northern Echo, Mr Prest said: "The burial committee is charged to manage the cemetery and its financial affairs on behalf of both councils and is continually faced with ever increasing expenditure.

"The finances are under continual review by the committee and one of a number of avenues that the committee decided to explore was possible re-development of The Lodge and its garden.

"The committee is conscious that this is a very sensitive area and I must emphasise that no decision has been made, hence the reason why all and any comments by members of the public are to be sent to the clerk of the joint burial committee at the Town Hall for due consideration by the joint burial committee."

Any residential development would include accommodation for the caretaker of the cemetery and his family, who currently occupy The Lodge.

All comments should be made to made in writing to the clerk of the joint burial committee, Town Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8QR.