An old quarry in Ingleton is being presented as a potential site for community use, with local residents being given the chance to put their own ideas for its future forward.

Mealbank Quarry was once a hive of industrial activity and houses a mid-19th century Hoffman lime kiln.

The site closed in 1910 and the kiln lies in ruins.

In more recent times the quarry has housed the Ingleborough Scout hut, but the youngsters have since moved to purpose-built premises in the village.

Now a group has been formed to look at ways to bring the SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and scheduled ancient monument into use as a recreational and tourism asset.

The Mealbank Development Group, made up of Ingleton Parish Council, Ingleborough Archaeology Group, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, English Heritage and Craven District Council, has commissioned Capita Symonds Heritage Management Services to research possible new uses for the site and produce a report.

Around 40 local people attended a public event at the quarry to look at the site and discuss what they would like to see happen in the future. In the evening there was a formal presentation and discussion chaired by Carl Lis, parish and district councillor for Ingleton.

Local archaeologists Dr David Johnson and Jamie Quartermaine explained the complex of buildings and tramways that once crossed the site linking to the lime kiln.

Don Gamble, of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, said: “Mealbank Quarry could be a real asset for Ingleton and plans to sensitively develop the site have been discussed for several years. We were very pleased by the level of interest in the quarry and the support and enthusiasm for the site to become a new attraction for the village.”

The report, due to be completed in July, is being funded by the North Yorkshire Aggregates Grants Scheme which is administered by the national park authority and the millennium trust.