PEOPLE in Addingham could soon be pumping iron and practising the ancient art of tai chi in the centre of the village, if a local fitness instructor has her way.

Sylvia Nelson wants to transform a centuries-old barn on Main Street into a state-of-the-art fitness studio.

Earlier this year, Bradford Council refused permission for a change of use for High Bank Barn - the building which, until recently, housed Parry's Adhesives.

But this week Mrs Nelson, who bought the barn last year, vowed to appeal against the decision, saying she was determined to bring fitness to the village.

"It would be good for the village community," she said. "At the moment there's certainly nothing for fitness. It would fill a local need."

If her bid is successful, the barn - which was once a milking parlour and later, a coffin-maker's workshop - would be completely refurbished to include a ground-floor weights room and a dance/exercise studio on the upper level.

"I feel that it's something special for Addingham people, including those past the first flush of youth," said Mrs Nelson, who has lived next door to the barn, in High Bank House, for 15 years. "It's not going to be for the young, heavy-exercise brigade. And I'm not going to interfere with people who want to go to Bolton Abbey or Ilkley to work out at the gym. It's very different. I'm no threat to them."

She said her original application was turned down because planners were worried about excess noise from dance classes and the lack of parking facilities.

"There will not be the old fashioned, large, noisy classes to music," she said. "The building does not lend itself to this. The emphasis now is for small classes, with very small groups and individual work. We would concentrate on Pilate's, yoga, tai chi and body fitness disciplines.

"There's a couple with an adjoining wall who are fine about it. I have tested it out with my grandchildren jumping around and shouting and playing loud music. When you stand outside, you can't hear a thing. I'm not going to hold classes late at night anyway."

And she claimed parking would pose no problem. "There's parking outside the barn and on our drive. There's also adequate parking facilities owned by Bradford Met within walking distance."

She said her application had received only one objection from local residents.

"A lady and gentlemen said it was a shame to use this lovely building for such a modern use," she said. "It's really sad that they are not happy. Everybody else seems keen on it. At this stage what we want is that everybody is going to be happy.

"It's got great potential. It's been well looked after by Mr Parry but it's empty and buildings deteriorate very rapidly. This would be perfect."

The parish council has said it will back Mrs Nelson's appeal.

Chairman Gordon Campbell said: "It's the kind of facility that the village probably needs in that a lot of men and women probably travel out of the village to train, or get leisure facilities, either into Ilkley or Skipton or use the one at Bolton Abbey.

"If there was one local it wouldn't do any harm. It would be an advantage to the village overall."