A HEADTEACHER has hit back at critics who attacked facilities used by the local community at his school.

It was claimed earlier this month that a £600,000 dance and drama studio at Richmond School had been built without disabled access.

Community leaders expressed concern that the elderly and disabled would be unable to use the facility in the evening and during school holidays.

However, headteacher Phil Beaver said yesterday that, although not ideal, wheelchair users could access the building via an indirect route.

The most direct route to the studio is down a steep flight of steps.

The original plan had been to build a lift.

But this idea was scrapped, along with additional developments next to the studio.

Mr Beaver said: "The whole site is built on a hill and has a problem with disabled access.

"But we have received £19.2m to redevelop the school. In the long term, the whole site will comply to the Disability Discrimination Act."

The studio was funded by the school, the Government and a grant of £150,000 from Richmondshire District Council.

Local councillors also criticised the condition of the school's sports hall, which is used out of school hours by the community through Richmondshire Leisure Trust.

Mr Beaver said the hall would undergo a major overhaul as part of the multi-million pound redevelopment.

Only the steel frame of the existing building will remain.

It is hoped the updated facility will get a viewing gallery and fitness suite.

He said: "We're trying our best to help the leisure trust.

"I'm dying for the sports hall to be pulled down and replaced. It will be one of the first buildings we hope to redevelop.

"At the moment, it is still serviceable and we are trying to improve it."

The school has allocated £8,500 to clear out the guttering in a bid to stop water leaking in.

Mr Beaver added: "When the redevelopment is finished, Richmondshire will be the beneficiary of a fantastic new site.

"This is a very exiting time for the school.

"We want to be a wheelchair friendly site and we want to be a community resource for everybody."

Work is expected to start on the redevelopment next year.