A BUSINESS whose threatened demise angered people in Richmond could receive a 12-month stay of execution.

A licence arrangement opens the way for the farm and garden supply centre, based in the town's former station building, to carry on until October next year.

Although proprietor Mr Mike Pattison will not make a final decision until he has again met Richmondshire District Council officers, the authority was told that informal discussions looked hopeful.

There was a public outcry last week when it emerged that the lease for the 27-year-old business had not been renewed and confusion surrounded the reasons.

The council was adamant that Mr Pattison had given notice to quit, but he said the authority had not renewed the lease and he was disappointed at having to go, along with 14 staff.

The site, next to the swimming pool and a private health club, was earmarked for leisure use in the local plan and the council felt a garden and DIY centre was unsuitable.

Mr Harry Tabiner, the council chief executive, told the resources committee on Tuesday that the council had the dual roles of landlord and planning authority.

The matter, which was to have been discussed in the private part of the meeting, from which the public is barred, was brought forward into open session at members' request.

"The outcome of consultation on the local plan and of a public inquiry was that this land should be earmarked for leisure services and we have, by law, to pursue that," said Mr Tabiner. "As landlord, we have a duty to maximise the income from that site. It is a straightforward commercial letting."

The council had gone out of its way to keep Mr Pattison informed and had acted properly throughout, he added.

"We spoke to Mr Pattison at some length about the council's preferred options for the site. However, Mr Pattison, of his own volition, without being asked, encouraged or threatened by the council, has decided to give us an unequivocal notice to quit."

Mr Tabiner said a meeting with Mr Pattison on Monday resulted in the businessman expressing interest in holding on to the station building for up to a year longer under a licence arrangement. This would give the council a chance to market the building, which has already been advertised as a development opportunity in the Estates Gazette, and realise its objectives and assets.

Several members of the public made use of question time at the start of the meeting to express their anger and disappointment that the farm and garden centre was to close.

Mr Sue Holden described the business as a treasure trove which attracted people to the town. If it shut, people would have to travel to Northallerton or Darlington for a similar service and would probably do the rest of their shopping in those towns.

During heated discussion, members expressed sorrow that the business looked set to close but were split over their response, some accepting Mr Tabiner's explanation and other calling for more information.

At one point, Coun Helen Grant stormed from the chamber, followed by a handful of other councillors, when it appeared that vice-chairman Coun John Blackie would block her request for clarification from officers of planning policy. The information was eventually given to the council by Mr Patrick Earle, planning and development unit manager.

The meeting agreed that all relevant correspondence between Mr Pattison and the council should be made available to members, but not to the public because it included confidential details of the business.

Coun Clive World said the matter had caused more consternation in the town than anything since the battle in the 80s and 90s over a supermarket being built on Friary field.

After the meeting, Mr Pattison said a further meeting with the council was needed before he made up his mind about the 12-month licence. "The terms must be discussed before a decision can be taken," he said.