THE army has been urged to make a start on its proposed £11m sports complex at Catterick Garrison or risk losing £450,000 funding from Richmondshire District Council.

The authority is also to demand an urgent meeting with Sport England to ask why the district has lost out on three major funding bids.

Mark Logie, of the garrison planning branch, told the council's community committee that the sports centre, including twin swimming pools, could open in late 2007.

The idea of an army sports complex which could also be open to the public was first discussed in 1999 and was originally expected to be complete by 2004. The council agreed to set aside up to £450,000 towards the development in exchange for guaranteed public access to the facilities and a say in the centre's management.

A failed bid to Sport England, which allocates sports lottery cash, delayed the plans and the Ministry of Defence stepped in to make up the funding.

On Tuesday the committee heard the scheme was now a Ministry of Defence project and a feasibility study was to be started in January. Construction could begin in early 2006, with completion the following year.

Coun John Blackie said delays in the development were deeply disappointing and the council's cash could not be set aside for ever.

The committee backed his proposal of a time limit of December 2007 when, if the sports centre was not complete, the council would take back its contribution.

Members were also keen to meet Sport England to ask why three major bids for cash for Richmondshire projects had failed.

Apart from the garrison scheme, proposals for a sports hall at Wensleydale School, Leyburn, and for a swimming pool at Hawes had failed to win lottery grants.

Sport England had refused the schemes mainly because, in a sparsely-populated area, they would not benefit a huge number of people.

Coun Blackie said the organisation had a two-tier system of criteria - urban dwellers were expected to live no more than 15 minutes' drive from sports facilities, whereas those in rural areas could be more than 45 minutes away.

Sport England had admitted that Hawes was the town in the Yorkshire and Humber region which was furthest from a pool.

The committee also confirmed its pledge of £150,000 of funding towards improving sports facilities at Richmond School, once details of community use and revenue costs were finalised.

Headteacher Phil Beaver told the meeting that school pupils would have first call on the facilities, but that the public would be accommodated as much as possible. If the sports hall was in use, other areas would be made available, including the lower school gym. The £600,000 improvements should be complete by September next year.

The council is to continue talks with St Francis Xavier School, in Richmond, which plans dual-use sports facilities as part of a complete rebuild of its premises. Discussions will also continue with Wensleydale School, which hopes to develop a small sports hall, towards which the council has also pledged £150,000.