NAMES and addresses of Ryedale visitors could be used to bolster council funds, if a Ryedale councillor's idea gets the green light.

Ryedale District Council has contact details for thousands of people who have made inquiries at tourist offices around the area.

Coun Chris Parkin wants to see this information put to good use and believes the council could benefit by thousands of pounds.

He wants the council to consider selling the lists to marketing companies who will use the information to target customers.

But business leaders are more cautious and doubt the move could have a big impact on the council's finances.

Coun Parkin said: "This can be used to raise thousands of pounds, which is a fair amount of money when you look at the budget restrictions we are on at the moment.

"These names and addresses in the open commercial world have a value of between £125 and £150 per thousand for a good 'hit list'.

"If you collect all those names and addresses on a database they can be used for a direct mailing campaign," he said.

To put his plan into action the council will need to register with the Data Protection Register.

People who have given their personal details must also have agreed by not ticking an "opt-out" box.

However, businesses who purchase the list are only entitled to use it once and the owners of the list can vet was is sent.

"We need to agree a policy for using this information. At the moment only certain officers can view it and it can only be used for certain purposes," said Coun Parkin, who runs the Carlton Lodge Hotel at Helmsley.

Steve Jaques, of Eden Camp, said: "The council is in a slightly different position to a private business who may want to try this.

"But as long as it collects the information correctly according to the Data Protection Act that is fair enough.

"However I would doubt if it is going to change the balance of the books dramatically."

Victor Buchanan, owner of the White Swan, Pickering, said he thought the information would be better invested in the long-term prosperity of Ryedale by making it available to businesses here.

"This is an opportunity to make a quick buck, but shouldn't the council be thinking strategically for the long-term?

"It is not a great money-spinner anyway," he said.

Updated: 09:52 Monday, November 12, 2001