THE five sports organisations operating out of Yeadon's Nunroyd Park are in the final throes of applying for Lottery funding. The Aireborough Nunroyd Sports Association (ANSA) continues to make steady progress towards its aim of achieving funding for a proposed new development at Nunroyd Park.

ANSA is made up of Aireborough Rugby Union Club, Aireborough Ladies Hockey Club, Green Lane Cricket Club, Guiseley Gremlins Junior Football Club and Skyrac Athletics Club.

The proposal is to extend and re-furbish the existing premises used by the cricket and athletics clubs and to provide six changing rooms, social areas for juniors and adults, a training area, cricket scorebox and all weather cricket wickets.

ANSA is currently working with Sport England and is very confident of achieving a Lottery Fund award in the very near future provided that a number of remaining issues can be resolved, namely the completion of a new lease and licence from Leeds City Council, who own the park, approval of final clubhouse design and confirmation that the majority of the partnership funding raised by ANSA is now in place.

Leeds City Council officers have confirmed that Council appproval to full draft lease should be in place by the end of February and to that end a public notice appeared in a regional newspaper last week.

A Leeds City Council Leisure Services spokesman said: 'A condition of Lottery funding is that the Association has a 25 year lease. Therefore a new lease agreement will need to be granted to the Association for the continued use of the relevant areas of the parkland.'

'As the park is open, public space there is a legal requirement that the issue of the lease is advertised. The teams which have played there for many years will continue to do so and visitors to the park will see very little change other than improved replacement changing facilities, it is not intended that public use or access to the park will be affected in any way.'

The Regional Development Manager for Sport England has agreed final clubhouse design and with regard to funding the scheme it is anticipated that ANSA will need to raise around £130,000 as their contribution to the estimated total scheme costs of £375,000. To date £75,000 has already been raised which includes an offer of a £45,000 grant from The Foundation For Sport And Art.

Richard Holdsworth, Secretary of ANSA, said: 'Various fund raising events are planned and the next is a social evening sponsored by Dragons Health Club at their Greystones Banqueting Suite on Friday, March 3.

'Entertainment will include local comedian Andy Swallow and live music from Breeze. Tickets at £2 can be obtained from Chris Clark on 0973 469998 or from the bar at Green Lane CC.'

Richard said that the Association is actively seeking sponsors and donations of labour and materials from local individuals, firms and businesses. It has also raised pledges of over £5,000 through its interest free loan scheme.

l Any individuals, firms, or businesses who feel they would like to make a contribution to providing a sports centre within Nunroyd Park should contact Richard Holdsworth on 0113 2260735.

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