A NEW astronomical observatory, said to be the only one with full disabled access in the country, has been proposed for a former North Yorkshire windmill.

The Yorkshire Astronomy and Sky Science Centre project is a ground-breaking proposal to create an observatory specifically designed to allow disabled people access and make use of the telescopes.

The windmill tower in Old Road, Appleton Roebuck, near York, is set to be converted to create the centre.

No other public observatories in the UK provide full disabled access, according to the man behind the development, John Rowland.

Most, including Greenwich, Edinburgh, and the Spaceguard Centre in Powys, have steep spiral staircases which exclude wheelchair users, said John Rowland.

Mr Rowland, who has applied to Selby District Council for planning permission for the centre, said: "There isn't an observatory in the area. North Yorkshire is particularly good for dark skies so it is an extremely good site.

"Most observatories are quite old and disabled people have to stay at the bottom. They are usually fobbed off with a portable telescope. It would be nice to have somewhere disabled people could use."

The windmill tower, in the countryside south-west of York, no longer has its sails, floors or mill machinery. The plans would bring the windmill back to life in a way that will retain its appearance as a historic landscape feature.

The centre, which if approved will encourage visitors to appreciate the universe and the sky, will be run by a charitable company. The tower will be topped with an retractable dome and visitors will be able to take astronomical photographs with their own cameras.

It will include a stair lift and wheelchairs on each floor. There will also be a satellite weather station and a 24 hour meteor monitoring facility.

If planning permission is granted, the project will seek funding from the Lottery Fund, charitable trusts, local businesses and the local authority.

Updated: 11:21 Tuesday, March 26, 2002