COUNCILLORS agreed yesterday that the 26-year-old Hambleton community centre at Northallerton should be refurbished because they cannot afford a new building on another site.

The Hambleton council cabinet was told that it would cost an estimated £2.1m to replace the Bullamoor Road building with a single-storey extension to the nearby leisure centre behind the council offices at Stone Cross.

Members considering a range of options for the future of the existing community centre heard that it could be refurbished for about £400,000.

A council review of community centre operations was triggered four years ago by concerns that it was becoming expensive to run, repair and maintain, although increased marketing and reductions in running costs brought improvements.

Hambleton, which has been discussing potential redevelopment of the Bullamoor Road site for other purposes with Northallerton NHS trust and Broadacres housing association, sought the views of community centre user groups on a way forward.

Mr Steve Quartermain, director of planning and environmental services at Hambleton, said a feasibility study had concluded that a full £3m scheme for a new building promoting the arts, culture and education at Stone Cross was clearly unaffordable.

A reduced scheme, which would meet most requirements of the feasibility study brief, would cost about £2.1m and could be afforded, although savings would have to be made elsewhere to accommodate it.

Coun Ralph Andrew was concerned that refurbishment had been costed at about £400,000 when the community centre site was said to be worth £180,000.

"I want the community centre facilities to stay and to be improved but I want to see that we do the right thing. If we are going to spend £400,000 I want to see better facilities for young and old in the district.

"It's time to stop nit-picking over the bones of the community centre. We have got to spend money on it and it has got to be looked after properly."

Council leader, Coun June Imeson, said: "The community centre is a valuable commodity for the district as a whole and they do marvellous things there."

Mr Quartermain said various improvements had already been considered for the centre and a more detailed report would be prepared for members.