CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club are appealing for supporters to attend a meeting tonight (Wednesday) with just a week until the deadline to express an interest in bidding to buy the building.

The club, based off Scarborough Road in Norton, was formally registered as an Asset of Community Value by Ryedale District Council earlier this month.

Expressions of interest have to be made by August 7, and more people are now being urged to come forward and help support the steering group which is aiming to save the club and transform it into a community hub.

Coun Di Keal, deputy mayor of Norton, said: “We are making real progress towards putting together a bid to keep the facility and transform it into a community and leisure club for Ryedale, but we desperately need more people with professional skills to come forward to help the committee put together a plan of action and funding bids.

“We have a huge mountain to climb in terms of raising the money needed to save the building and we are appealing to any of the hundreds of people who pledged their support at the public meeting back in February to join the committee and offer some practical help as time is running out to pull a bid together.

Coun Keal said: “We are also asking clubs and organisations who used the facility when it was open to contact us if they would like to come back once we get the building up and running again.

“Anyone who is interested in helping save this vital facility for people in Norton, Malton and further afield is urged to come along to the meeting.”

Ryedale District Council registered the club as an Asset of Community Value, the first carried out by the authority, following a nomination by Norton Town Council.

Although the intention is still to sell the building, the registration gives an opportunity for properly constituted organisations or community groups to express an interest in bidding to buy the building.

If an expression of interest is properly received then any sale of the building cannot take place until December 26, which would give the interested organisation or community group the time to put together a funding package and business plan for the building.

The meeting is being held at Norton Town Council, Commercial Street, at 7pm.

Anyone who would like to support the campaign is welcome to come along or phone Coun Di Keal on 01653 694546.