WORK has started on the next phase of work to provide Wensleydale Rugby Club with some of the finest facilities in Yorkshire.
The Leyburn-based sport club’s old changing rooms have been demolished and work is underway to create six new changing rooms, a new kitchen, referees’ changing rooms, physiotherapy facilities, a store room, balcony and refurbished function room.
Richmond MP Rishi Sunak, who is a club member, inspected progress on the works along with the leader of Richmondshire District Council, Cllr Yvonne Peacock.
Mr Sunak said: “This project will see major improvements to the club facilities and be major asset not just for the club but the Leyburn area as a whole.”
“Wensleydale RFC is a great community club and I look forward to seeing the completion of the work in the summer.”
Having previously improved the bar area and installed floodlighting, the club has amassed funds from several sources to enable the latest work to take place.
Club chairman David Broadley said it was an exciting time for the club.
He said the new facilities would be built to the highest standard thanks to a £100,000 grant plus a £100,000 interest free loan from the Rugby Football Union. Another £75,000 had been received from Sport England, £25,000 from Yorventure and £20,000 from Richmondshire District Council.
The club had also raised £100,000 over a ten-year period for the redevelopment.
Improvements have already been made to the bar. The new function room will be able to seat 150 people and would be available for the local community to hire.
Mr Broadley said local contractors AR Calvert, of Leyburn, were being used for the work, which was scheduled for completion in August this year, in time for the 2016/17 season.