Ilkley Rugby Club is to receive another £10,000 of public funds towards its new clubhouse, but questions remain over more council cash requested.

Ilkley Parish Council has agreed to give the further money to the Denton Road rugby union club for its £1.4 million community clubhouse development, on top of £20,000 already pledged.

Sport England has offered a £343,000 boost to the club, subject to conditions, and the club is also hoping to secure money from the Rugby Football Union, plus £50,000 from Bradford Council. The club has also raised in excess of £800,000 towards the project, which will replace the ageing stand and clubhouse on Stacks Field.

Supporters of the development say it will be of benefit to the wider community – in addition to its hundreds of members – as a meeting place and sports facility.

It is hoped that work will begin later this year.

The parish council has indicated in the past that it was minded to give a second £20,000 to the club but councillors this week were hesitant to commit more than £10,000, and some voiced concern about giving so much council money to a single private organisation.

Councillor Kathy Best agreed with giving the club £10,000, but said she did not want any promises made about giving another £10,000.

Councillors were supportive of the rugby club’s work, pointing out that as well as the hundreds of residents it served, the club attracted a lot of other people into the area.