SHEEP fleeces are insulating the roof of a new ecocommunity centre in one of County Durham’s most isolated areas.

A small wind turbine will power a ground source heat pump at the Carlbeck Centre, in Lunedale, Teesdale, to keep visitors warm.

The former school’s transformation is the idea of Lunedale Community Association and was realised with more than £150,000 of grant money.

The Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne was on hand to cut the ribbon and open the centre yesterday, after signing the title deeds over to the association.

Built in the 1850s, Carlbeck School closed in 1958 when only 11 pupils were on the register.

The YMCA then used the building until the late Nineties, but it has since been redundant.

Trustee Margaret Dent said the idea for an eco-friendly centre was originally about saving money.

“The environment is something everyone is mindful of, and we’re a small community and don’t want to have huge running costs for the building,”

she said.

“We were fortunate to get the Big Lottery funding and capital grants to enable us to put the renewables in.

“Renewables are very expensive to install, but you get the benefits in the running costs.”

The community association drew up plans in 2004, before securing a grant of £152,094 from the Big Lottery Fund and £15,500 from the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for the work.

Mrs Dent said residents felt the loss of the post office, and after a Queen’s Jubilee party had to be held at a couple’s home, because there was nowhere else, they saw an opportunity to renovate the school.

“There was nowhere for anyone to meet,” she said. “No shop, no pub, no post office, nowhere to hold a community party.”

It is now expected that the Carlbeck Centre will play host to craft groups, Pilates classes and local history groups.

Durham County Council’s Teesdale Action Partnership will also meet there.

“We are delighted that we have been able to achieve this and that the building has been renovated to such a high standard,”

said Mrs Dent. “We think it is something special.”

The community association continues to fundraise for the centre and it held a raffle there yesterday.

Prizes included a pamper day, holiday and cash.