A £550,000 improvement project for Otley's Parish Church will begin next week.

The scheme, as revealed in last week's Wharfedale & Aireborough Observer, includes a number of measures designed to modernise and improve All Saints.

Part of the work, which starts on Monday and will take eight months to complete, will include removing most of the Grade I listed church's Victorian pews.

The church says this will both allow new underfloor heating to be installed and give it more flexibility for seating arrangements by using chairs instead of pews.

Earlier this month the Leeds Consistory Court, a Church of England body that approves changes to churches, ruled – despite objections from two parishioners opposed to the loss of the pews – the project could proceed.

Otley Vicar, the Reverend Graham Buttanshaw, said: "There were a few people unhappy about us removing the pews and I understand that, since people's relationship with the parish church can go back to their grandparents or great-grandparents and there's an emotional attachment to seeing it looking the same.

"But we've got to make the building more usable by the community and it doesn't make any sense, in today's world, to keep having it used only for traditional services."

The OASIS (Otley All Saints Improvement Scheme) project will also see a new light and sound system installed, additional toilets provided, and the church entrance opened up to become more accessible and brighter.

All Saints has already secured about £450,000 of the funds needed, and has launched an appeal to raise the remaining £100,000. Donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/otley-parish-church .