A BUSINESS established in Richmond nearly 30 years ago is set to close at the end of November after a legal wrangle over the lease.

Mr Mike Pattison, owner of Richmond garden and farm supply centre, housed in the old station building, says failure by Richmondshire District Council to renew his lease means the end of the road for the business.

The authority has earmarked the site, next to the town's swimming pool and a private health club, for leisure use in its local plan.

The shut-down would throw 14 people out of jobs and mean customers travelling to Northallerton for specialist farm, building and DIY materials.

"I have been there 20 years but the lease has been here for 27 years," said Mr Pattison. "The matter is being discussed by legal people at the moment but it looks like the business won't be continuing past the end of November. I am very disappointed but the council is, in effect, not renewing the lease."

He said the move was the final nail in the coffin of the business, which had suffered in the last year with nine months of building work on the roof of the listed building, the collapse and subsequent six-month closure of Mercury bridge and the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Doubling of the rent and a subsequent increase in rates had also affected the business.

Mr Harry Tabiner, chief executive of Richmondshire District Council, said Mr Pattison was not being "kicked out" but had given notice to quit, which the authority had accepted.

"Our preference for leisure use is no secret," he said. "In both our current local plan and projections for 2006, the area is zoned for leisure.

"As a businessman paying rates, Mr Pattison is aware of his rights but he gave notice to quit and we accepted."

News of the imminent closure has already attracted public disappointment. In a letter to the D&S Times, Dr J D Robertson, of Westfields, Richmond, describes the farm and garden centre as a flagship enterprise, the closure of which will have detrimental knock-on effects for other businesses in the town.

"Local shoppers and those from a wide area who rely on the centre will be forced out of town," he said. "Small businesses will also have to go elsewhere."

The matter is due to be discussed in the non-public part of the district council resources committee meeting on Tuesday.

l See Letters, page 18.