Sport provision in Leyburn have improved thanks to grant aid from the district council.
The town’s Community Leisure Club has received £7,848 towards a £26,162 scheme to refurbish the squash courts and install energy saving insulation and LED lighting.
The club was privately owned until two years ago – but when it closed members formed a non-profit community club, taking over its fixtures and fittings.
It is now run on a voluntary basis with gym memberships reduced to just £20 per month, along with cheaper hire charges.
Richmondshire District Council leader, Councillor Yvonne Peacock said that the authority’s social fund has helped eleven schemes over the past 18 months with £266,671 helping projects worth £1.2m.
“Our fund has made a difference to people’s lives across Richmondshire – helping them to reach fruition,” she said.
“Without this cash many might not have gone ahead – this Leyburn project is a great example of a facility that has been taken over by the local community and is now going from strength to strength.”
She said the projects to benefit from social fund cash are:
| Scotton Parish Council | Hunton footpath | £10,500 |
| Richmond School | Construction of 3G artificial grass sports pitch | £50,000 |
| Wensleydale Rugby Club | Building work | £46,717 |
| Foxglove Covert LNR | Conservation and interpretation of heathland | £8,756 |
| Leyburn Bowls Club | New clubhouse, pavilion and equipment shed | £17,505 |
| Leyburn Community Leisure Club | Refurbishment of squash courts | £7,848 |
| Richmond Town Football Club | Whitefields refurbishment | £12,960 |
| Garrison Gathering | Memorial art project | £15,000 |
| Richmond Building Preservation Trust | The Old Grammar School | £50,000 |
| Richmondshire Leisure Trust | Health and wellbeing within Richmondshire | £25,356 |
| Colburn Town Council | Play park improvements | £22,027 |
