When Guiseley’s guide hut burnt down the community rallied round to raise the funds to build a new one.

Local people pulled out all the stops to get a bigger and better building, and last July they said a final farewell as the remnants of the old hut were pulled down.

But all the hard work and determination came up against an unexpected problem when they were unable to start with building work because a protected tree stood in their way.

But now their plan is back on track, and work can begin after local councillors stepped in to resolve the impasse.

Leeds City Council has given the go-ahead for the troublesome tree to be chopped down to allow work to proceed – on the understanding that a new tree will be planted to replace it.

The break in the deadlock was reached when councillors Graham Latty and Stuart Andrew held an on-site meeting with representatives of the Guides and the council’s ‘tree officer.’ Coun Latty said: “Everything had been going swimmingly with the plans for the new guide hut but they have not been able to do anything because when they wanted to turn the first sod they were told there was a tree preservation order.

“We had a meeting on site and got an agreement for the tree to be removed so that the laying of the foundations can go ahead.

“Now they are hoping that once people can see the hut is being built donations will start to flow again, because donations have started to dry up.”

He said agreement had been reached after the meeting with the planning department official.

“We looked at the site and it was decided by the planning officer that the tree could be removed provided they plant another tree.”

Last year Guides young and old turned out to say a final goodbye to the building that had been their headquarters for half-a-century.

It was a poignant moment for many when machinery moved in to finally demolish the hut which had been gutted by fire in an arson attack in December 2007.

Former Guides joined young members of the guiding organisations to witness the end of an era – and to welcome in a new age with a two-storey replacement building.

Guiseley Guide headquarters has always offered a community space for residents and other community groups from the surrounding area.

There has been a Guide headquarters on the site since the 1950s.

At the time of the demolition they still needed to find £62,000 to pay for the new building, with the scheme costing £195,000 in total.

Towards the end of the previous year the Guides put their proposed plans for the new building on display to the public.

Leeds City Council pledged a grant to cover the cost of demolition, which was expected to cost around £17,000.

The new building will be made out of brick rather than wood, and although it will be two-storey, the upstairs section will be used for storage only.

After the suspected arson attack the Guide leaders were told the insurance payout of £50,000 would not cover the cost of a rebuild.

Local groups and organisations, along with the Guides themselves, have done their best to plug the gap.

A whole host of fund raising activities have been held and the appeal was given a massive boost with a pledge of £30,000 from the Freemasons.

Donations have also included a cheque for £1,000 from the WI.

The hut was widely used by many groups within the community, and the fundraising has been a community effort.