An ambitious village millennium project has been toned down. Last August, Cononley playing fields committee launched millennium plans to erect a £22,000 bandstand. The cast iron structure was intended not only as a shelter, but an arena for music and theatre.

It was part of a £42,000 project to revamp the village playing fields. Planned new play equipment will be purchased, but the bandstand has been replaced by an all-purpose shelter.

At Cononley parish council's Tuesday meeting, committee member, Charlie Bayer said: "We have raised £32,250. We want to withhold £2,500 in the bank to oversee such things as the gala.

"We have £30,000 to spend on the project - £11,000 short of the original target."

CPFC - managing trustees of the parish council-owned land since 1937, when it was first purchased - have also applied for £13,000's worth of grants. "These won't come until about April, so we can't count on those yet," says Mr Bayer.

Work on new play equipment and safety surfaces will begin immediately. The multi-purpose shelter replaces the current rundown wooden one.

Mr Bayer explains: "We're going to look at three or four options, all lower than the original cost and removeable seating."

But this is subject to raising more funds. Flexible plastic Safety tiles costing £60 a metre will also be laid. The cost includes twice yearly inspections by safety experts.

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Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.