More than 80 people packed into Fylingdales Village Hall last Wednesday night to find out more about the Fylingdales Low Carbon Community group’s plans to reduce their area’s carbon footprint and to show their support.

After supporting the residents at its cabinet meeting on Tuesday the council will now help the group work with two social enterprises, Groundwork Trust and Canute Ltd.

Officers of the council will now be tasked with drawing up the agreement to accept up to £500,000 funding from the Low Carbon Challenge Group and be responsible for financially managing the project.

The initiatives to be explored include renovating the village hall by extending its biomass heating unit to heat nearby buildings, community-wide smart meter installation, broadband upgrade and a hydropower feasibility study, which could see the old water mill at Boggle Hole provide power to the youth hostel nearby.

Coun Jane Mortimer, ward councillor for Fylingdales, spoke at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting to praise the community spirit.

She said: “The 80 people came together the in the village last week at only three days notice and have acted very quickly to get the application ready before the closing date.

“I think this project has got the ability to become a beacon that will show the way for other communities who want to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Coun John Dixon called the scheme “very exciting”.

“I think for a community group to get this far with no help at all is great work on their part and a testament to their dedication to the scheme.”

The council and the group will now work together to get the submission into the Low Carbon Investment Fund before the 30 December deadline.