A DEVELOPED Hawes Auction Mart site should be a centre of national excellence, putting Wensleydale on the map, a public meeting heard.

Paul Askew, the project director working for consultants finalising a feasibility study for the future use of the mart site, said the scheme could be as important to the area as the Wensleydale Creamery and associated Kit Calvert heritage

About 60 people attended the meeting at the Dales Countryside Museum, chaired by Maurice Hall, to hear about progress on the study and to make comments.

The partnership which raised £100,000 for the study comprises the mart, the Upper Wensleydale Business & Tourism Association, the Upper Wensleydale Community Partnership, the Community Investment Partnership, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and Barclays Bank.

Mr Askew explained the three aims of the development were to secure the future of the livestock auction, to develop a higher value meats business with the recently established Dales Quality Meats and to make use of space not needed by the mart.

The aim would be to create 50 new jobs, create five new businesses, provide training for 200 students in ICT, and generate a higher visitor spend.

It was explained that the site had buildings, pasture and hardstanding. It already had planning consent to demolish some areas and build shops and new cattle pens.

It would need movable pens, business offices, an ICT area, broadband access point, flexible areas for conferences seating up to 250 people and exhibitions, a retail area for the Dales Quality meats, and an exhibition telling the story of sheep - meat to table and wool to textiles.

Above those facilities could be housing for local people.

There would also need to be catering facilities for farmers and visitors with new toilets.

There would be space for visitors who want to see some of the mart's own activities, such as selling livestock.

Outside there could be demonstrations such as stonewalling and events.

The architects estimate five million people live within 1 hours travelling distance. To avoid transport problems there would need to be changes to parking layout and signing of the site.

The main concern expressed at the meeting was whether the idea was financially sustainable in a remote location.

One business person doubted that there would be vast income streams from what was a huge capital project but use of hi-tec facilites such as broadband could help all round. There was also a question about whether a large scale visitor attraction was appropriate in the national park.

It was stressed to the meeting that grant providers looked for contributions from the local areas to have confidence in what was proposed, and then they would match funds. These providers would look favourably on a community equity fund with individuals committing from £5,000 to £20,000.

Suggestions were made by the meeting that the reception area could be linked to the local tourist information office. Could the exhibition area be used as a cinema? Would visitors be separated from farmers' business in the auction ring?

Anyone with further comments should contact either Paul Askew 07980 727279, Maurice Hall 07977 418699, or Angela le Grice 07786 914990 as soon as possible.

The directors of Rejuvenate Wensleydale expect to receive the final plan in the next week or two