PLANS to create a £1.2 million community sports hall for the Eden Valley have taken a step forwards with confirmation that Cumbria has got through the first stage of the New Opportunities Funding application and a meeting is to be held this week to discuss stage II.

Fund-raising has been going on in the area since the launch of the project on June 16, 2001, to build the Appleby and District Community Sports Hall on land at Appleby Grammar School. To make the plans become reality, £60,000 has to be raised by the local community to allow other funding to be released.

The letter, from Cumbria County Council confirming the New Opportunities Fund organisers had issued stage II business planning arrangements, was welcomed by the chairman of the Appleby Alliance, which has been a driving force behind the scheme, welcomed the new development.

Mr Eric Wooff said: "This is wonderful news. The new community sports facility will benefit not only Appleby but all the surrounding towns, villages and hamlets in this part of the Eden Valley."

The Grammar School will lease the land for the building of the sports hall for a peppercorn rent for 25 years.

Mr Wooff said: "The plans are a vision which has been created in response to consultation with those who would use the hall.

"The facilities will serve the 3,000 residents of Appleby and the rural area surrounding it, as far as Kirkby Stephen and Stainmore, Tebay, Kirkby Thore and the East Fellside villages.

"It will be a genuine community facility which will enable the development of a range of both sporting and fitness programmes that will benefit all age groups, all abilities, all year round, with special reserved provision for younger and older groups. It will create an opportunity for all members of the community to take part in sports at all levels.

"Provision of a site at the school creates a perfect link to the community, making the facility easy to access by all. It will create a pathway for young people into lifelong enjoyment and participation in sport."

The total funds raised on December 31, 2002 reached £5,000, but the community fund-raising continues, with the Elvis Experience show at Appleby Grammar School on February 15 being the next big effort. A website is in place offering up to the minute information about the project and can be found at www.sportshall.org.uk

February 5, 2003 11:00