THE proposed move of Richmondshire District Council away from Richmond centre will not be popular in the town. The loss of 150 people from the centre's shops and businesses will be keenly felt in a town which is struggling to maintain its economic vitality.

Those businesses who have anxiously watched the retail developments being built at Catterick Garrison will feel even more vulnerable with the prospect of all that spending power moving east.

But the members and officers of the district council have a wider responsibility, to the residents of the whole district and not just the traders of Richmond town centre. The council's existing accommodation is frankly antiquated. Swale House and Frenchgate House may be listed buildings but they are pretty hopeless as modern offices. Add to that the fact that the council's departments are dispersed around four buildings then it is easy to see why an indepedent report recently concluded that the council could never hope to offer the service it should while its central administration is so dislocated.

The council's probable new home at the Colburn Business Park may not be universally popular with the council's staff, who may like their current location in the one of the country's most beautiful towns. But there will be compensations, not least easier parking and more comfortable, spacious accommodation.