BARNOLDSWICK Corn Mill and Valley Gardens are to be included in a conservation area linked to the Stream 'n' Steam water-powered heritage trail.

A five-week period of consultation was carried out, between February 7 and March 14, to gauge residents' opinions on a draft boundary for the area and the new designation will be rubber-stamped at next week's meeting of the Executive.

Letters were hand delivered to houses within and adjacent to the proposed boundary settlement and letters were sent to interested groups and bodies and the majority of people supported the proposal.

The conservation area would include the corn mill and associated buildings, the former lodge which is now a garage site and the weir and mill race that runs through Valley Gardens.

It also involves the gardens and allotments along the route of Butts Beck, St Joseph's Church and hall and surrounding streets, Skipton Road, Powell Street, Bethel Street and Bairstow Street, Dam Head Road, numbers 1-21 Hollins Road and land in front of Taylor Street.

Craven ward councillor David Whipp backed the proposal and said it would be of great benefit to the town.

He said: "It is very important in terms of conserving the heritage and natural beauty of the area but the wider importance is that it is the key to unlocking half a million pounds of investment from English Heritage and other sources."

The Corn Mill was built in the early 19th century originally as a water mill but there was previously a mill on the site in 1795. It kept its use as a corn mill until 1970.

It is hoped that if the conservation area is approved, the council could than begin to address the problems of disrepair at the Corn Mill through a conservation grants.