ILKLEY Lawn Tennis & Squash Club have been offered £400,000 of National Lottery funding.

The money, which has come from Sport England's improvement fund, is set to be used to help implement the first stage of the club's long-term development plan.

The initial stage is also the largest, and involves improving car parking and pedestrian access and building a larger gym, as well as fitness studios.

Other clubhouse improvements will also be made to enable Ilkley LT&SC to expand, in particular, their growing fitness section and increase the availability of these facilities to the community.

Club chairman Richard Bourdon said: "We are delighted to have been supported by Sport England to such an extent in our aim to get more people playing our core sports more often.

"They have looked at all of our plans and believe, as we do, that our club can make a real difference to sport in our area.

"The grant, together with significant support from the Lawn Tennis Association and our own funding plan, will enable us to present the plan to our members for a final decision, with the right balance between the need for new facilities and the risk we are prepared to take on."

The members will have their say on the funding at a special general meeting in the clubhouse on Monday, November 3 (7.30pm).

Ilkley LT&SC's general manager Charlie Maunder admitted: "Although the National Lottery money takes a lot of the pressure off us, there may be some questions about the financial aspect but we are expecting members to vote for the development.

"If there is a yes vote, we expect work to start next year – probably in the summer, although some of the car park work may start earlier."