FRESH blueprints for a new sports centre in Colburn will be tabled at a meeting in Richmond this evening.

The district council already gave its blessing to one project for the community in April this year. However, architects employed by Colburn Town Council have now redesigned the building which needs the authority's approval if the scheme is to go ahead.

A two-court sports hall, a fitness room, an activity room, a kitchen, changing rooms for both indoor and outdoor sports, storage areas, a first aid room and a meeting room are all included in the application. A multi-use games area, cricket nets and playing fields also remain part of the project.

The architects are now suggesting a slightly more compact building, smaller but taller in some parts than the original.

District councillors, who meet tonight, will also be asked to consider a new location for the cricket nets, which would be nearer homes on the eastern boundary, screened with trees and an earth mound.

In a report written for tonight's meeting, district council planning officer, Brian Hodges comments that the new design for the car park, which includes more shrubbery, is an improvement on the previous application.

However, the final decision rests with councillors, who will have to decide if the entire package remains acceptable.

Colburn Town Council has been pioneering the £1.5m sports centre project in partnership with the organisations which helped attract Government funding for regeneration schemes in the area.

Much of the remainder of the cost was covered through grants from the National Lottery, finalised in October last year.

Meanwhile, Colburn is also to benefit from the development of a new medical centre, already under construction off Catterick Road, as well as a new business park being built nearby.