Cheers as 1970s scout hut is razed to make way for modern replacement

FOR years it stood like a blot on the landscape.

But there were cheers as the old Scout and Guide headquarters in Bedale was finally razed in order to make way for a 21st century replacement,

Members of the community helped raise money for the Bedale Beckside Project and watched with glee as a mechanical digger pulled down the 1970s shed.

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Work on the new building, backed by a ‘substantial’ grant from the Ministry of Defence Community Covenant Scheme via Royal Air Force Leeming, is scheduled to take 24 weeks to complete.

Malcolm Boor, a founder of the original scout HQ, said: “It was good to see it go”.

Scouts and Guides were also at the demolition along with the fundraising group consisting of Mike Barningham, Craig Harrison, and Marie Wilson, chairman of Bedale Scout Group.

She said: “Nicky Smith from NDVSA (Northallerton District Voluntary Service Association) has been a significant help in gaining grants and we must thank her particularly for all her hard work.

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“We aren’t home and dry just yet, as in order to access the grant from the Ministry of Defence, one of the conditions was that we had the rest of the money in place. We have had a couple of ‘promises’ from Yoreventure and the ‘106 fund’ which have been delayed. Collectively these amount to around £70,000, and it has therefore been necessary to access a loan from the Scout Association to bridge the gap until funding comes in.”

The building will allow Scout and Guide meetings, with access to a separate teaching room for group work.

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