CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club have submitted a successful expression of interest in bidding to buy the building.

A new committee of Ryedale Community and Leisure Centre, will now work with professional advisors to put together a business plan and seek funding to take the project forward.

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

Expressions of interest had to be made by August 7 with the successful bid meaning any sale of the building cannot take place until December 26.

John Harrison, chairman of the steering group, said: “The new committee of the Ryedale Community & Leisure Centre, formally the Indoor Bowls Club, has submitted a successful Expression of Interest in purchasing or taking over the club by Community Asset Transfer to Ryedale District Council.

‘We are now working with our professional advisors to pull together a business plan and seek funding to take the project forward.

“There is a huge amount of work to do in the next six months to put our plans together and we hope that Ryedale District Council will work with us to achieve the best possible outcome for the community.

Mr Harrison added: “We also hope that the people of Ryedale will also continue to support our efforts to retain the building as a much needed community venue.

“Support from the entire community is essential to the making the project a success and we are appealing to them to help us keep what is one of the biggest and best placed venues in Ryedale.

“People have shown their support and strength of feeling at a public meeting earlier this year and also at the turnout at the Ryedale District Council meeting in May and we need them to continue to back us.”

Janet Waggott, chief executive of Ryedale District Council, said: “There has been one expression of interest in the bowls club.

“This simply means that the full moratorium period of six months is applicable, the six-month period started June 26.

“The resolution from full council is still to dispose of the Ryedale Indoor Bowls Club at market value.”