CONTROVERSIAL plans for a £1m visitor centre in Danby have been defended amid fears that small village shops might suffer loss of trade.

Andy Wilson, chief executive of the North York Moors National Park, addressed the Danby Group parish assembly last week, at which he gave a presentation on the future of the park.

At a public meeting the previous week, Mr Wilson came under fire from residents and retailers angry about the proposed replacement of the Moors Centre.

Many felt the modern, glass-fronted design was not in keeping with the area, while shop owners were concerned that a retail outlet within the building could damage their businesses.

Mr Wilson said: "Having listened to what people had to say at that meeting, the authority's working group all agreed to ask for some reasonably substantial modifications to the plans, particularly the curvy side wings."

Other changes include scrapping the idea of a grass roof and changing the roof angles to reflect the traditional building behind it.

The building will still be constructed of recycled steel and insulated with straw, as well as retaining other environmentally-approved features.

"The pictures make the building look much bigger than it is," added Mr Wilson. "It's got to fit into the site and, in terms of floor space, it is something like half the size of the new Danby surgery and one-sixth of the size of the Abbeyfield site in Castleton."

Mr Wilson said he was due to meet retailers on Monday in a bid to allay fears of competition from the new centre. A meeting with publicans and hoteliers would be arranged, and he would be happy to hold meetings with other interest groups.

When asked how the national park had come up with such a futuristic design, when most people had to keep their plans to a very traditional style, Mr Wilson said the reasons were to do with the site which was not in the centre of the village.

"You can justify it in terms of policy very easily. The designs are far more traditional than the new visitor centres at Helmsley and Dalby Forest," he said.

There was a chance of European money, but it needed a quick response. "We had to say to the architects: 'Do something now, otherwise the money will be gone'. Sometimes you have to grab your opportunities."

Mr Wilson said tourism was important to the moors. "We need to get the publicity right so people come to the right place at the right time of year and use the right type of transport. The new Moors Centre is a serious attempt to boost the number of people who come here for a whole range of businesses."