A £375,000 FUNDRAISING drive for the redevelopment of a market town’s scout and guide headquarters has been launched.

The Beckside committee has been set up to deliver the eco-friendly facility in Bedale.

Plans for the development, on the site of the current run-down scout hut, were launched this week with a donation from one of its founder members.

Malcolm Bloor was involved in the construction of the existing Emgate base, which opened in 1974 and brought together scouting and guiding in Bedale under one roof for the first time.

Now, as a member of the Bedale Male Voice Choir, he has handed over a cheque for £218 to kickstart the fundraising campaign.

The scheme aims to turn the existing wooden fabricated headquarters into a community facility able to support Bedale’s expanding scout and guide group, an under fives pre-school group and the wider community.

Successive generations have maintained the headquarters, but now proving to be costly to maintain and heat and beyond economic repair, the group has decided it is best to redevelop the site..

It also lacks disabled access, modern toilet facilities and separate rooms for adults and young people when used for overnight camps.

Guiding and scouting has existed in Bedale for 91 years with group numbers steadily increasing – there are currently 138 young people, supported by 25 adult leaders and helpers.

Andy Macleod, chairman of the Beckside committee, said: "A modern and fit for purpose headquarters is now required to allow the group to develop further and provide a facility for the use by the wider community."

The Scout groups hope to begin using the new building by early 2012.

Other "green credentials" of the planned new building include:

· straw bale insulation on the walls and roof;

· a sedum green roof;

· heating from an air-sourced heat pump;

· triple-glazed timber-framed windows;

· natural ventilation system and light tubes.

A grant of £10,000 towards the fundraising target was pledged in July by the Bedale 4+20 Fund, which helps deserving causes in the area.

For more information about the project, or to get involved with future fundraising, call scout group leader Chris Hall on 01677-426266 or Craig Harrison, on 01677-427024.

Alternatively, email bedalebeckside@gmail.com