Ilkley Parish Council has awarded thousands of pounds to community schemes including funding to help churches set up a credit union.

The Council’s Awards and Projects Committee granted £350 to Churches Together in Ilkley to buy a computer and printer for a new credit union, being set up in the town next month.

The initiative is the latest scheme by churches in town to help local people living in poverty, and follows the setting up last year of a local food bank by Churches Together in Ilkley.

The credit union will be run from Christchurch, The Grove. The Parish Council has also agreed to give £2,981 for installing high quality wooden doors at the entrance to the toilets under the King’s Hall.

This will replace the current metal gates at the toilets, which has been closed for several years.

Councillors feel this will improve the external appearance of the King’s Hall by removing the “caged effect” of the entrance to the toilets.

Further funding agreed last week included £1,500 for the Ben Rhydding Croquet Club to secure a storage unit for croquet equipment, and £500 to help Ilkley in Bloom buy plants and shrubs, enhancing the attractiveness of the town.

The voluntary organisation plans to plant at more than 30 areas in the town.