Grassington should soon have a new focal point – right in the centre of the village.

As part of the Grassington Hub project, a building has been bought on Manor Hill, just off the village square, and an official opening is expected next month, ending a nail-biting year of negotiation, frustration and hard work.

The idea of a “hub” came from a small group who felt the village had become rudderless and was losing services rather than progressing.

The group, comprising parish councillors, Chamber of Trade, Grassington Festival and the professional sector, decided the area needed a central focus for information and a springboard for village initiatives.

They joined forces with a group which had been trying for two years to restore a library in Grassington.

A public meeting last year saw enthusiasm for the idea and, with some funding sources identified, they formed a steering group. Then, with a lot of help from villagers keen to get involved, they started the task.

Hub chairman Andrew Colley said: “We could see other villages were doing things to help themselves, while Grassington was in the doldrums. This obviously struck a chord with many other locals. We’re proud we’ve got this far, particularly at a time when nobody is throwing money at anything.

“The library group had wanted to house the library in the town hall, but North Yorkshire County Council turned this down, so other suitable premises had to be found. Luckily, the ideal building was available, just off Grassington Square.

“North Yorkshire County Council liked what they saw and immediately offered us the facilities to set up a library there.”

The hub’s committee secured a £45,000 Rural Access to Opportunities grant from Yorkshire Forward to help pay the rent and overhead costs for the new premises on Manor Hill.

There are plans to extend the library by offering facilities such as a digital display screen, databases, a village brochure and magazine, a box office and office services.

Committee member Dr Andrew Jackson said a number of outreach services had been negotiated, including a “telemedicine project” in collaboration with Airedale Hospital. A videolink would connect the hub to the outpatient department at Airedale so local people could have a hospital consultation without travelling to Steeton. A nurse would be present in the hub to perform examinations or blood tests where needed.

Other outreach services are expected to involve Yorkshire Housing and the North Yorkshire Credit Union.

The committee would also like to hire a full-time manager to look after a team of volunteers, who would be trained to act as librarians and to use the IT equipment.

However, the committee’s application for a European Union Leader Funding grant of £100,000 was turned down. That would have covered the new manager’s salary for five years.

But Dr Jackson was upbeat and said one of the hub’s next steps would be to achieve charitable status, which could help with future grant applications.

l Anyone wishing to become a volunteer should contact co-ordinator Mel Morgan-Davies on 07521 169383 or email mmd.hubvols@hotmail.co.uk