A COUNCIL is planning to invest up to £750,000 in sports facilities in an effort to improve the health of residents.

Hambleton District Council will spend the money on a feasibility study at Easingwold Sports Hall, improving the dry sports facilities at Thirsk Swimming Pool and Stokesley Leisure Centre and developing 14 play areas.

They also want a five per cent rise each year in the number of people taking part in physical activity by increasing the number of visits to leisure centres.

The council's aims are outlined in its Corporate Plan, an overview of how the council plans to improve the quality of life in the district over the next four years and describes how the council will deliver its 15-year vision, called Making Life Better.

Health is one of the council's key priorities, with prosperity, safety, environment, housing and citizenship also identified as of particular importance.

The council aims to boost the prosperity of the district by creating jobs.

It has set a target of 700 jobs by 2008 on land and workspace provided by the council in Northallerton, Thirsk, Stokesley, Leeming Bar, Bedale Station and Easingwold.

Another target is to increase the turnout at local elections from 37.5 per cent in 2003-2004 to 47.5 per cent by 2008.

A joint statement from the council's chief executive, Peter Simpson, and council leader Councillor Arthur Barker said: "In this single document we set out the council's ambitions for the next four years and how we will track progress of our key achievements, but also to look back at how we have performed against the targets we set ourselves or those set for us by others.

"The council's vision and priorities were set with significant involvement of the community, councillors and our partners. There are clear links with the Community Plan so we can be sure that our own priorities are contributing to the outcomes that our residents deserve and expect."

The council's cabinet will discuss the plan on Tuesday in the Civic Centre, North-allerton.