CRAVEN schools are to benefit from improved energy efficiency following a successful bid for almost £2m by North Yorkshire County Council.

Four schools in the district - Christ Church CE Primary School, Skipton; Ingleton Primary School, Sutton in Craven Primary, and Settle College, are amongst the more than 20 schools across the county who are set to benefit.

The bid for Government funding by the county council’s property service, will pay for improvements to buildings, particularly the replacement of windows, to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Funding will also go to council run care homes and a museum, but not in Craven. It will also support a study of options for environmental and energy efficiency initiatives at the authority’s office buildings such as electric vehicle charge points, generation of renewable energy and other carbon-saving measures and building improvements.

All the energy efficiency projects are due to take place this year.

County Council leader Cllr Carl Les, said: “Climate change is a real threat to our region and collectively we need to take action to mitigate and reduce the effects.

“Opportunities such as the public sector decarbonisation fund are very welcome to help us to improve our buildings and infrastructure. We want to send a clear message that we are committed to improving our own buildings and reducing carbon from our activities.”