Aireborough community groups and clubs are set to profit from more than £50,000 now a committee has decided who should benefit.

The Aireborough Community Involvement Team (CIT) has voted on which organisations will benefit from its remaining allowance of £58,356.

The CIT, a council-run organisation made up of councillors, council officials and members of the community, has agreed to fund:

The provision of a new boat for the Reva Sailing Centre, in Hawksworth, will be funded for £4,118.

The centre needs a new boat after its previous one was destroyed in a storm. The boat was used to teach youngsters how to sail.

The centre needed the funding after only receiving £900 for its insurance claim on the boat.

It has already raised £5,982 through fundraising and a Lloyds TSB Foundation Grant.

Aireborough CIT chairman Graham Latty (Cons, Aireborough) said: "The principle is a really good one.

"I believe that It would be a good addition to what is there now and we will be enabling it to continue."

The CIT has agreed the sum of £22,812 to fund two park rangers in the area to cut anti-social behaviour in parks in a joint venture with Otley and Wharfedale and Horsforth and Cookridge CITs.

As previously reported, the rangers, who would have no powers of arrest, would tackle problems with youths in the area's parks.

Hawksworth Residents' Association will be given £5,000 to cover the cost of updating Hawksworth Village Hall, which is an integral part of its community.

The 150 residents in Hawksworth rely on the hall as a place to meet and it could close if it does not receive improvements costing £9,000.

Brian Raistrick, of Hawksworth Residents' Association, said: "There is concern that if we cannot upgrade the chapel as a whole it will close for both worship and village hall users.

"It is not just a village, it is a meeting place for the entire village. At the moment people in wheelchairs have to be carried up the steps."

It is the only community venue in the village and it needs an exterior wheelchair ramp and a disabled toilet to bring it in line with disabled legislation due to be enforced in 2004.

The remaining £4,000 will be raised through fundraising events.

Coun Latty said: "This is a very worthy improvement of the church. It is to enable it to bring up to date and will make it more useable."

CIT member Janet Brown said: "The church has invited people to use it. It is a lovely little hall and I feel we have to do it."

Guiseley Theatre will receive more than £6,000 for much needed internal improvements.

The theatre needs new flooring and seating which will cost £8,337.40 and the CIT has agreed to fund £6,337.40 of it.

It has been unable to secure lottery funding, but it will continue to raise money through its performances to improve disabled access.

It was agreed to fund £1,800 for new equipment to complete the Tarn skate park in Yeadon.

The CIT will purchase a Fun Box and a Quarter Pipe to enhance the its facilities.

The existing equipment is well used, but it is inadequate to meet the needs of the large amount of youngsters who use it.

Youth workers from Leeds City Council supervise the youngsters using the park and are available to offer them help and advice on a range of issues.

l The decision to provide Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside services with £7,189 to erect fencing at the Henshaw Estate was deferred.

The fencing was to be placed next to a pathway and to surround a play area, local residents have gathered a petition to represent their need for the fencing.

Coun Latty said: "Local residents are worried about anti-social behaviour in the park area behind the Crescent.

"Youths have been throwing stones at youngsters playing there. People have been terrified to take youngsters to the play area. The fencing would go around it to protect people in it."

The members were split on the decision to grant funding because it was believed lottery funding had already been granted for fencing, but no one knew where it had gone.

Others were concerned about how long the fencing would last, but it was felt that the park rangers would keep an eye on it.

Councillor Dr Makhan Thakur said: "I have hesitations, it is a lot of money for a small space. I think if it is for the district then all the money should not be spent on one place. It needs to be something which will benefit the whole of Aireborough."

Janet Brown said: "Henshaw doesn't get a lot, I think responsible parents have a right to be able to play with their children in safety."

The project will be discussed at the 2003 CIT meeting.

l The CIT has already funded an £8,000 policing initiative in the area to provide an extra police presence.