A YOUTH association is to ask local firms and national bodies for more than £100,000 towards a community sports hall at Ilkley’s Warehouse youth centre.

Registered charity Ilkley Youth and Community Association (IYCA) says plans for the £240,000 centre will be submitted to Bradford Council shortly.

The future of The Warehouse was recently secured in talks with Bradford Council, at which it was agreed the centre and the neighbouring Little Lane Children’s Centre would support each other.

IYCA says the development would be the only public sports hall in the Ilkley area open to all at a cost recovery and maintenance basis for a variety of activities to help keep residents active.

Chairman of the Association, Councillor Martin Smith, said: “We have prepared a list of local Ilkley businesses from whom we will seek additional funding for the shortfall of about £110,000 of the £240,000 which is required.

“However, we shall need grants from the community and other national bodies to balance the books.”

He says current indoor sports facilities are too irregular in shape and the ceilings are too low for sports such as five-a-side football, basketball or volleyball.

“Therefore, there is no provision for winter activities of an energetic nature, which would help in tackling fitness issues with the youth and more mature, hence the urgent need for the covered rear yard to facilitate this activity,” he added.

The Warehouse youth club is continuing to grow, says IYCA, with between 25 and 40 young adults attending on a regular basis.

It is hoped the new hall would encourage a wide variety of other users, such as sports clubs and arts groups such as dance and theatre.