LAST-minute talks are being held ahead of a meeting to decide the future of a crumbling historic mill overlooking one of the most popular attractions in the Yorkshire Dales.

Developer Dave Peacock’s proposal to rescue the grade II listed former corn and woollen mill at Aysgarth Falls looks set to rest on the outcome of negotiations for additional car parking space in the area. The plan aims to convert the mill into two flats, six holiday let flats and one local occupancy flat, alongside a visitor centre, a commercial premises with the re-instatement of its hydroelectric turbine.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority officers said while they appreciated the mill’s future was under threat after the property’s roof collapsed, they were still unable to ignore the lack of parking in the area.

They said despite the developer having worked with both North Yorkshire County Council highways bosses and the park authority in order to improve the car parking provision for the proposed development, the scheme could still lead to road safety hazards and congestion.

Highways bosses have agreed there is now no requirement for car parking to serve the proposed commercial unit and the target for car parking has been cut down from 24 to 18 spaces.

National park authority planning officers said if the developer could fund and negotiate “some sort of arrangement” for parking, it was possible the park authority’s final recommendation could be changed to one for approval.