Owners of historical buildings in Otley are being urged to snap up £150,000 restoration cash - or lose it for good.

The Conservation Area Partnership (CAP) initiative was launched a year ago and offered owners and tenants of some of the town's historic buildings a chance to apply for financial help to make essential repairs.

The money, which will be split over the next three years, has been put up by English Heritage with matched funding from Leeds City Council.

But despite the efforts of the Otley Town Partnership very few people have applied and now it is feared that unless the money is taken up it will be withdrawn.

Councillor Phil Coyne, chairman of Otley Town Partnership, urged landlords and traders in the town to consider ways in which they could improve their buildings and shop fronts.

He said: "The buildings within Otley have a distinctive quality and many buildings are situated within the conservation area.

"The cost of repairing or renovating these buildings can actually deter people from undertaking such work, but the good news is that money is available to assist landlords and leaseholders improve their buildings and shop fronts."

Les Cross, Otley Town Council clerk, said he was concerned that people were unaware of how to make a bid for a share of the cash.

"What is disappointing is that to date only a few people have taken advantage of this scheme and if the money is not spent soon it will be lost forever," said Mr Cross.

He added if the first year's money was not taken up, it would put across the wrong message.

"If we have to send money back on this occasion because there has been insufficient take up, it will be very difficult to convince people in the future that there is a demand for such funding," he said.

"I really do hope more bids will be submitted soon. The bidding process is quite straightforward and we do have guidance sheets to help people put their bid together."

Cash support is available for improving shop frontages and there are photographs of authentic shop fronts in Otley Museum to give people ideas.

Repairs of traditional features such as stone roofs, window frames and guttering could also be paid for out of the special grants.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the grants should contact Mr Cross at Otley Civic Centre on (01943) 466335.

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