THE group established to ensure the future of the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens complex in Ilkley was officially launched at the weekend.

Following a reception at the complex, The Friends' constitution was ratified with Jim Horsley, of the Ilkley Music Hall Committee, elected as chairman from April 2001.

David Pyett, of the Ilkley Concert Club was elected as vice-chairman and parish clerk Miggy Bailey was elected to serve as secretary.

During the meeting, Mr Horsley praised Bradford Council theatre officers who had helped set up the

partnership organisation to try and bring more charity funding to carry out further restoration work at the entertainment complex.

He also praised District Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con - Ilkley) for her role in setting up the Friends, although she cannot sit on the committee because it could be seen to conflict with her role as head of

environment at City Hall, a brief that includes municipal theatres.

The meeting also celebrated the completion of front of house refurbishments by Bradford Council, costing £120,000. This will be supplemented by a further £40,000 to help replace the glass roof.

Mr Horsley said the group recognised how much Coun Hawkesworth was concerned about the Kings Hall/Winter Gardens complex and remembered how she had been responsible for reinstating the outside canopy which had been taken down eight years ago.

Coun Hawkesworth told the meeting that the venue had been neglected since local government reorganisation in 1974. She said that groups such as the Friends could be involved in taking back control of local amenites to ensure their improvement while working in partnership with the council.

The meeting decided that the subscription fee for members should be £10-a-year. The secretary will now write to all users of the facility asking them to nominate one of their members as a representative to sit on the committee if they wished.