A clearer vision has emerged of radical plans to create a multi-million pound new "Gateway to the Lakes".

Council leaders hope plans to transform land off junction 36 into an interactive visitor, business and agricultural centre could give farming a much-needed shot in the arm, boost jobs and pull in tourists.

The £14 million venture has been hailed as "the place where the rural economy of South Lakeland can do business with the rest of the world". It would be funded by a public private partnership and would ultimately become self-financing.

New reports show the focal point of the gateway would be a state-of-the-art livestock sales centre with a tiered-seating auction ring, office units, pens and parking.

The flagship centre, which could be built on a green field site close to the M6/A590 junction at Crooklands, has yet to secure full financial backing and would have to clear a series of major planning hurdles.

But managers of a similar venture in the Derbyshire Dales claim their centre has been an outstanding success, helping the community withstand foot-and-mouth.

Council leaders hope to bag North West Development Agency funding to get infrastructure up and running on site within the next three years.

The findings of a special study commissioned by South Lakeland

District Council, Cumbria County Council, Cumbria Inward Investment Agency and the North West Development Agency won the initial approval of Cumbria County Councillors, who voted to explore the development further.

Other key partners in

the scheme include Westmorland Agricultural Society and Kendal and District Auction Marts Plc.

Ideas included in the report are:

l A visitor centre for the Lake District with webcams and permanent interactive displays promoting local land and people.

l A retail outlet and food hall promoting local produce.

l A development and marketing centre, linked

in with local business schools such as Lancaster University and Newton Rigg, which would act as a test-bed for new products. The centre would also include a food processing, packaging and weighing facility.

l A business centre, complete with conferencing facilities, IT suites and space for training.

l A transport interchange with a shuttle bus service serving the southern Lake District National Park and Ulverston. The interchange will provide links to the proposed extension to the canal and towpath cycle ways.

l An outdoor picnic and leisure area around a new Lakeland tarn' with discovery trails

and rural skills demonstrations.

CCC South Lakeland Area Support manager Stuart Pate said: "This is an exciting opportunity. After foot-and-mouth and recent redundancies in the area this South Cumbria Gateway looks really promising."

SLDC cabinet leader Coun Colin Hodgson said the development proposed was an "exciting and important opportunity" for the region.

Levens farmer and Cumbria county councillor Jim Bland said the auction would be a "new generation" facility attracting tourists and farmers alike. "I think this has tremendous potential," he said.

CCC economic development portfolio holder Coun Kevan Wilkinson said the proposal deserved to be explored further.

The project follows in the footsteps of the award winning Agricultural Business Centre in Bakewell.

Business Centre manager Neil McGregor told The Westmorland Gazette, since the centre opened in 1998 the £6.3 million project had become a run away success attracting thousands of visitors, exhibitors and farmers every week.

"The centre was reasonably controversial. Even those who were sceptical at the planning stage have begun holding their hands up and saying they were wrong. It has certainly contributed to the local economy," he said.

l Councillors and other groups have been invited to a presentation at Lane Farm, Crooklands, on February 20, 21 and March 5 when they will be able to comment on the proposals.

February 14, 2003 09:30