A CANDIDATE who was defeated in the May elections has challenged the man who won the post to live up to his campaign promises.

Clive Rudd stood for the Hawes and High Abbotside seat on Richmondshire District Council.

He failed in challenging the authority's established leader and local businessman, John Blackie.

Mr Rudd made the creation of a swimming pool or sports hall in the town one of the cornerstones of his election campaign.

But the electorate voted Councillor Blackie back into office after he also pledged to do what he could to speed up progress on the project.

When the authority meets on Tuesday, Mr Rudd has requested an explanation for the lack of further progress on either the pool or the sports hall.

He said: "Now the elections are over, I can reveal that, had I been elected, I would have been willing to advance the swimming pool fund the sum of around £50,000.

"This would have been an interest-free loan for an indefinite term. My only condition would have been to name the pool The Russell Pool.''

In reply, Councillor Blackie has insisted the delays were not of his making.

He said the National Lottery is in the middle of a reorganisation of its grant-making organisation and projects around the UK were expecting decisions once the process is complete.

Councillor Blackie added: "The Sports Lottery Fund has already supported a feasibility study which suggested a pool could run at a profit and an application for funds was submitted in February.

"Since then, the district council has taken successive advice from the Lottery, which is reorganising its grants operation, slowing the process down.

"In the meantime, other projects have still been informed that their applications have been unsuccessful so we have to remain optimistic and hope that no news is good news.

"However, if the project goes ahead, the local community may have to raise as much as £100,000 towards the scheme, so I would welcome an opportunity to discuss Mr Rudd's offer of £50,000 with him.''