RESTORATION of a Victorian stable block near Richmond has received a top accolade from the town's civic society.

This year's star "bouquet" - honours awarded in the society's annual review - goes to the development on the Aske estate, home of Lord Zetland and Lord Ronaldshay and their families.

The redundant stables were renovated and turned into business units. They opened in May and have all now been let.

"The scheme is a credit to Zetland estates, led by Lord Ronaldshay, and to Roger Tempest's Rural Solutions organisation," says the review, published last Friday.

Another major restoration scheme, at the former convent in Reeth Road, Richmond, is also praised. Its derelict condition had for many years earned it a civic society "brickbat", but members felt the long-running saga was nearing a happy ending.

Other projects in the bouquets category include the purchase by Blenkiron's funeral directors of the former Victoria hospital; Richmond Rotary club's walled garden at the new hospital; the conversion of the former Oak Tree inn to housing, and the beginning of long-awaited repairs to the castle walk.

Richmondshire District Council wins praise for building new toilets at Ronaldshay Park, but the society continued to condemn vandalism attacks on the new block and at Bank Yard, where it hoped a housing association scheme would soon proceed.

Brickbats went to Stead and Simpson's shoe shop, where a busy part of the market place paving was blocked off for many months during renovation work. The society was disappointed the roof of the building had been demolished along with its 18th century cupola staircase light.

The sub-division of Prior House, a former field study and outdoor activity centre, into apartments is also given a brickbat. The society found the flats too small and considered the building had retained its institutional appearance.

Lack of re-planting in Pottergate, where mature trees were felled on safety grounds two years ago, is also bemoaned.

White plastic bollards to dissuade people from parking dangerously near school exits in Darlington Road, are condemned as "unpleasantly suburban."

In his chairman's report, Mr Bev Joicey lists flood damage to Mercury bridge and the continued collapse of the Easby Abbey riverside footpath as the two issues which generated most public concern in the last year.

He paid tribute to North Yorkshire County Council for re-opening the bridge to light traffic on schedule and to Richmond Town Council for its support for campaigners fighting to have the Easby path reinstated.

The 48-page review, which includes articles on Richmond's history, is available from Stabler's newsagents and Castle Hill bookshop at £2.95. Copies may be ordered by post from the editor, 18 Bargate, Richmond DL10 4QY, at £3.50. Cheques should be payable to Richmond and district civic society.