RESIDENTS in Tockholes are being urged to back a campaign which would revitalise their village hall.

The kitchen in the building has deteriorated and as a result the hall is not being used as frequently as it could be.

This means it is not generating the necessary income to cover the required renovations.

At the last meeting of the village hall committee, the council's community development officer, Julie Astley, discussed a number of possibilities with members as to the future of the hall. It was agreed that a grant should be applied for through the national Vital Villages scheme and that villagers should be encouraged to support the idea.

Sean Carroll, a committee member, said: "Julie said that, considering the lack of amenities in the village, she thought the chances of the application for cash being successful was high.

"The type of grant available is a part-funded grant which means the village would need to raise a percentage of the funds and the council would reciprocate with a similar gesture.

"The hall itself is fine but the kitchen has gradually deteriorated. There's damp on the walls and a lot of the equipment is not up-to-date. It's a catch 22 situation because if people don't use it, it deteriorates,but no-one wants to use it because it's deteriorating!

"The general feeling from people in the village is that if the hall was returned to a usable state, it would certainly be supported. If people want to put an event on with catering at the moment, they have to get someone in to do the catering because they can't use the kitchen."

A simple questionnaire has been sent to all the houses in the village canvassing support for the hall.

They will be collected in this week and forwarded to Julie who will submit them in support of the application.

Julie said: "By the end of January I will have to send the business plan for the bid because funding ends for this financial year so if there's anything left we might be able to get it. If not, we will be first in line for the next financial year."

Vital Villages is a Countryside Agency scheme aiming to help small rural communities to take stock of their village to revitalise it and ensure local people have a say.