SCOUTING leaders have failed in their bid for a quarter of a million pounds from a York community fund to help them build a new Scout hut at Osbaldwick.

The Osbaldwick and Murton Scout Group was hoping to receive money from a £650,000 community fund set up by the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust in connection with Derwenthorpe, its 540-home development at Osbaldwick.

Assistant Cub Scout leader Julie Lund said earlier this year that the wooden building, used five days a week by Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies and Guides and often on weekends as well, was too small. It had inadequate storage facilities and would not survive very much longer.

But the trust said yesterday the application had been considered by its community facilities sub-group but had not fitted the criteria it had set.

It is understood the group has decided most grants should be between £100 and £500.

The spokesman confirmed the group had given £175,000 to help fund a new community centre, which he said would be used by residents and surrounding neghbourhoods.

He said: “We have set out a clear process for the allocation of the balance of the community fund to ensure that funding is available throughout the period of development. He defended spending £175,000 on the provision of the community centre, saying that it would benefit the wider area.

“Spending £175,000 on the provision of a community centre within Osbaldwick Parish and at the centre of the Derwenthorpe development is a community facility which will be of benefit not only for residents of Derwenthorpe but also the wider community.”

Osbaldwick councillor Mark Warters said as result of the two decisions, Osbaldwick Parish Council and also Meadlands Area Residents Association and Temple Avenue Residents Association had withdrawn from the sub-group’s decision-making process, believing it no longer had any credibility.

Julie Lund said: “Obviously we are disappointed, but we will continue to review alternative sources of funding.”