A ONE-stop shop resource centre for Skipton's charities and voluntary bodies is a step closer to becoming a reality.

Craven Voluntary Action, currently on Coach Street, is planning to buy the derelict land behind the Craven Herald offices on Bay Horse Yard and build a two storey central services facility to provide office and conference space for voluntary organisations.

This proposal has come as a welcome opportunity for the groups which are struggling in inadequate premises with poor access and lack of equipment such as Cruse Bereavement Counselling, Skipton and Craven Action for Disability and the British Red Cross.

Help in making this dream come true has come from Skipton Building Society which has offered short term financial support to secure the land until grants from other sources such as the National Lottery, Yorkshire Forward and Craven Counts can be sought.

Head of corporate communications Mark Smitheringale said: "It is there to help them secure the land and help them to do what they want to do. If they wait they may lose the land."

The outline plans for the resource centre include between eight and 12 offices providing purpose built, low-cost office accommodation, which would enable voluntary groups to share resources and equipment that they could not afford by themselves. In doing so the groups should be able to provide a higher quality service to the customers.

CVA co-ordinator Jacqui Baines said: "It will also provide a focal point for information on what services are available, and will improve access to those services, particularly for people with disabilities."

Chairman Maureen Moody said she had been waiting for this idea to come to fruition for many years, and until now had had trouble finding a suitable location for the premises. "This is so ideal because it is so accessible to everyone," she added.

Mrs Moody said she had seen one stop shop resource centres proving to be successful in Harrogate, Burnley and Kendal.

She said that having the organisations on one site would mean they could ensure there was no overlap of services, ensure that all needs were being met and allow voluntary groups to support each other.

Included in the scheme are nine car parking spaces for visitors but it is not expected to create too much traffic around the site which is opposite residential property. Staff will park in the same public car parks that they use now.

It is believed that there would be 18 workers in the building on any day and approximately 30 visitors during the day.

It is also anticipated that Monday to Friday there would be 16 journeys in and out daily and six minibus visits every day.

The previous buildings were demolished on the site just over a year ago and the land has remained an eyesore ever since.

Mrs Moody hopes the CVA can transform the site into premises which will be pleasing to the eye and in keeping with the surrounding buildings.

She added that it was not definite what style the building would take as details were still being finalised by the architects, and that the residents near to the site would be consulted about the scheme.

The next step is for the proposal to be approved or rejected by Craven District Council's planning committee. It is hoped work could begin in the summer 2001.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.