DRAFT plans to refurbish community sports facilities at Prince Henry's Grammar School in Otley will go on show from Monday.

The scheme, which is likely to include the refurbishment of the 25-metre Chippendale swimming pool, the sports hall, a smaller hall and the resurfacing of the tennis and netball courts, will be displayed at Otley Civic Centre.

Prepared by Manchester firm Strategic Leisure Ltd, the plan also includes the provision of new changing rooms for the swimming pool, the sports hall and outdoor pitches.

And there will also be a new fitness suite, a new all-weather pitch, and a new social area.

The scheme comes after a feasibility study carried out by Leeds City Council concluded community sports facilities in the town were in a bad way and that attempts for lottery funding were likely to succeed.

The council then employed leisure consultants Strategic Leisure to talk to Otley organisations and sports clubs and prepare the draft lottery bid papers.

And although there are no firm figures, those involved in preparing the bid are hoping for substantial funding for the project which would be match-funded by Leeds City Council's leisure services department.

Councillor Philip Towler, chairman of Leeds Council's recreation services committee, said: "These community sports facilities will be a major benefit to the people of Otley, so we very much hope the bid is successful.

"Leeds leisure services department will focus on increasing participation and providing opportunities for everyone to get involved in sport and fitness activities, which can only be a good thing."

Coun Towler added it was important that as many people as possible saw the plans and made their comments to the leisure consultants.

"We believe the views of local people are very important in the process of preparing this bid, so we hope the public will come out in force to view the draft document, look at the plans and send their comments in for consideration, " said Coun Towler.

Written comments should be sent to Ms Rachel Fowler, Strategic Leisure Ltd, Carrington Business Park, Carrington, Manchester M31 4YR.

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