EXCITING new proposals for a sports barn to create all-weather facilities at Kirkby Lonsdale Rugby Club were unveiled at the town council meeting.

Rugby club president Mike Cunningham also outlined plans to create more sports fields to cater for the increasing number of people who are getting involved at the club.

"The balance of who belongs to the club has changed and it's moved to a youth orientated organisation," he said.

"This has driven us to look at new plans for developing facilities and I do think it's a good idea to talk to the town because we want it to be a facility for everybody."

Mr Cunningham is confident that the club's membership will rise to about 300 and that has led them to consider changes.

"We are the first club in Cumbria to get the Rugby Football Union seal of approval we want to hang on to that and instead of getting rid of youth teams we are focusing on ours so we are becoming quite an important local facility," he said.

Mr Cunningham put three proposals forward: l To take over the agricultural lease on the estate this is to prevent any future problems of livestock damaging the pitches.

l To turn the current pasture into further sports areas.

l To create an indoor sports barn that would provide all-weather facilities that could be used by the football club, the Lunesdale Show and even for concerts.

Mr Cunningham said: "I will be submitting the plans when I have written formally to the estate to suggest it and I wanted the town council to be aware that we hope to create a really good facility for the children of the area."

Chairman of the town council, Coun Alan Day, was delighted to hear of the proposals put forward: "It's fantastic, exciting and absolutely thrilling to hear of this I really like the focus on the youth."

Mr Cunningham also took the opportunity to dispel any stories of a fall-out with the town's Lunesdale Show committee following this summer's event which damaged the rugby pitches: "There is no question of anyone suing anyone, it's just one of those things that happens."