A COUNCILLOR says a flagship community project could bring a major jobs boost.
Clr Colin Walder has welcomed the £1.6m plan for a sports, leisure and community complex.
He said it was the key scheme in the overall regeneration programme for the Dalton, Rawthorpe and Moldgreen Project (Dram).
If Sport England confirms its support of £650,000 for the scheme in Ridgeway, Rawthorpe, early next month, work on the new complex - which will also be the replacement base for Moldgreen Amateur Rugby League Club -should start in the next few weeks.
The rest of the cash will come from the Dram regeneration programme, which is providing £634,000, £50,000 from the lottery and a Kirklees Council contribution of just over £200,000.
Clr Walder, a representative for the area and a member of Dram's management board, said: "This is the most important scheme in the Dram programme.
"It will provide a vital community facility, as a well as a new base with top-class accommodation for the rugby club and other local groups," he added.
"While tenders have been received for the project I hope that whoever gets the job will be able to look favourably at employing local people, if possible.
"It would be fantastic if this exciting new community facility could involve local people in its development.
"The new centre will see new changing facilities, improved playing-fields, a multi-use games area, a fitness suite and other community facilities," said Clr Walder.
"Modern community facilities are badly needed in the area. The current changing rooms and facilities are in a poor condition."
A not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, will manage the Dram centre.
The board will comprise equal representatives from the rugby club, other users of the centre and the local community, plus co-opted representatives from Kirklees Council or other stakeholder groups.
