A ROW over a disused 19th century windmill could ground plans to turn the listed building into an astronomy centre.

The "bold and imaginative" scheme to convert the windmill at Appleton Roebuck into an observatory has won the backing of parish councillors, but council planning officials are warning it could mean the loss of important architectural features.

The man behind the project is John Rowland, an IT consultant and an amateur astronomer for more than 30 years.

Mr Rowland, 59, who lives near Driffield, plans to spend more than £100,000 to convert the windmill, with the help of funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, grant-making trusts, local authorities and businesses.

He insists that many of the features are beyond repair and are incompatible with the new use, which would maintain the exterior of the building virtually unaltered.

Now Selby District Council will try to resolve the deadlock over the 45ft former windmill, a four-storey building which no longer has a roof, sails or machinery.

Mr Rowland wants to turn it into an observatory and sky science centre, which could be used by academics, students, school groups, astronomical societies and members of the public. There would be chairlift access for disabled people to all floors.

The so-called York Astronomy and Sky Science Centre would be run by a charitable company.

Parish councillors at Appleton Roebuck and Acaster Selby have given the scheme, which would also include an exhibition and display area, lecture room and dark room, their "enthusiastic" backing, claiming it would be a unique facility in the area.

But council planning officers say Mr Rowland has failed to carry out a proper assessment of surviving internal timbers to establish whether they could be retained or reused.

They are also concerned about the lack of design details about the dome housing the telescopes at the top of the building.

Officials concede it is a bold and imaginative project, but insist that it should be based on sound conservation of the structure.

They are recommending that councillors reject the application for planning approval and listed building consent when they consider the issue on Wednesday.

Mr Rowland told the Evening Press today that the application had been carefully prepared to take due account of the need to maintain and improve the traditional external features of the mill tower.

He said: "However, we are not able to retain any of the internal - rotting - features such as old beams.

"These are inconsistent with the use to which the tower is to be put, namely a modern and exciting science centre. The planning authority must decide which is the most important, progress or tradition."

Updated: 16:30 Thursday, September 19, 2002