THE problems facing small businesses based in the Yorkshire Dales are being highlighted next week.

The Upper Dales Area Partnership will hear from local businesswoman Gillian Harrison, who is trying to expand a flourishing farm ice cream business in Thornton Rust.

She will be joined by Richmondshire’s economic development officer, Rita Lawson, who will talk about workspace feasibility schemes and what is on offer for rural families.

“We will be debating the key social and economic priorities we must resolve if we want a flourishing and vibrant Upper Dales community in the future,” said partnership chairman John Blackie, leader of the district council.

“Unless we have more houses that local young families can afford, unless we have a higher quality of jobs on offer locally, unless we have local services on our doorstep rather than miles away, then the future for us looks very bleak indeed.

"New houses for local young families will stem the exodus we are witnessing from our communities, superfast broadband throughout the Upper Dales will deliver very welcome state of the art employment locally, and local services are all essential community ingredients if we are to be successful.”

Partnership members will also discuss the cost of post-16 transport to education – regarded as a major financial burden to many parents living in rural parts of the county.

The meeting on March 25 follows the launch of the superfast broadband service for Reeth –and officers from North Yorkshire Superfast Broadband team will be at the village hall from 4pm to 6.30pm to answer questions. The partnership meeting follows at 7pm.

The meeting is open to everyone to attend.