THE final push has begun in a bid to raise the £200,000 needed to unlock funding for the conversion of Richmond station.

The Darlington & Stockton Times is supporting Richmondshire Buildings Preservations Trust in its attempt to raise the money to secure the future of the £2.5m scheme.

The restoration of the Grade II*-listed building would see it transformed into a multi-purpose community and commercial centre.

The project began in November 2002, a year after the closure of the farm and garden centre that had occupied the site for 20 years.

Richmondshire District Council, which owned the 160-year-old building, agreed a 999-year lease with the trust.

Provisional planning agreement was given in February and it is hoped full permission will be clinched this summer.

Bids for a total of £1.73m submitted to three public funding organisations have been looked upon favourably, providing the local community contributes at least 10pc of the project cost - £250,000 - over the summer.

So far, £50,000 of this has been raised from donations, charity events, sponsorship and a membership scheme.

The campaign to raise the final £200,000 is launched today.

Donald Cline, a founder member of the trust, said: "If the balance of the funds has not been raised by the end of September, it is likely the public funding commitments we have secured will be withdrawn, as these organisations are not permitted to release their grants unless the entire budget for the restoration has been obtained."

A bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £690,000 cleared its first hurdle in November; a final decision is due in September.

An application to the European Union also received first stage approval, but the Government asked the trust to submit a new application next month to cover the full value of the development.

Richmond MP William Hague has been a staunch supporter of the project since the start.

He said: "This is a unique building; no other station was built to this design. It is important for all of us to remember our responsibility to preserve the unique aspects of our heritage. It is always exciting to give a modern purpose to a fine old building."

Richmond Town Council was one of the first organisations to offer practical help to the station group by providing a meeting room.

Coun Stuart Parsons, the mayor, said the project was vital for the future of the town's community.

"Without a development like this, it would be more and more difficult to attract visitors to the town," he said. "The overwhelming support that the project has received proves that Richmond is a community which can pull together to make things happen.

Coun John Blackie, leader of Richmondshire District Council, also backs the scheme. "It is a community initiative that has the potential to make a real difference to life in Richmond and across Richmondshire," he said.

The editor of the D&S Times, Malcolm Warne, said: The project is an opportunity the town cannot afford to let slip through its fingers. That's why we are pleased to give the appeal our support."

* Special appeal reports: page 14 and 15