SOME of the final grants have been handed out to environmental and community projects in North Yorkshire using money generated by a landfill tax on operations by Yorwaste.

Children’s play areas, a railway station, village halls and sports facilities were among 30 projects that received funding of £528,305 in 2016/17 from Yorventure.

Yorventure is a registered environmental body which distributes funds generated through landfill at waste sites including Harewood Whin, near Rufforth.

Yorventure chairman Neil Carrigan said Yorwaste had given almost £14 million over 20 years to the Landfill Communities Fund.

But a spokesman said applications for Yorventure funding were now closed, as Yorwaste replaced its landfill operations with more sustainable waste management methods. A huge incinerator near the A1 is now starting to burn waste from across York and North Yorkshire

The spokesman said remaining awards from the July 2017 round of applications would be announced over the next six months.

Schemes to receive the latest tranche of grants, which ranged from £600 to £39,191, included a play area at Strensall, near York, which was awarded £20,150.

“A rundown play area was transformed to provide a range of equipment on one level, usable by both disabled and able-bodied children,” he said.

“The existing surface was removed and replaced by a safer turfed area, allowing better access, and seating was installed around the edge for supervising adults.

“The refurbished play area now enables both adults and children to socialise, bringing the community together.”

He said Ryther Village Hall, near Selby, was awarded £25,000 to extend the hall to create a larger kitchen area.

“The hall is used by a wide range of groups and also provides a venue for events and social functions, all of whom are now benefitting from the improved facilities.”

Topcliffe & Asenby Village Hall, near Thirsk, was awarded £37,020 towards the construction of a new toilet block, improvements to the foyer and access.

Scruton Station Service Platform, near Northallerton was awarded £22,280 to create a new timber platform to allow village residents to use the railway to access local market towns.

Scarborough Gymnastics Academy was also awarded £9,450 to buy new equipment.