VILLAGERS in Seagry and Startley have taken the first step towards building a modern village hall fit for the 21st century.

The majority of local people feel the 83-year-old building in Upper Seagry, which serves a meeting place for people in Seagry and Startley, is too old and difficult to heat in the winter.

More than 70 residents last week turned up at a meeting to hear that the Village Hall Management Trustees had bought an acre of land from Wiltshire County Council for £7,000 with the aim of having a new building completed in approximately four years time.

Derek Kemp, deputy chairman of the trustees, said the new hall, expected to cost around £360,000, would be situated opposite the current one on the road between Seagry and Startley.

He said £22,000 had already been raised by the group through social functions, coffee morning and quiz nights and he hoped the rest could be obtained from grants and donations.

Mr Kemp said: "At the moment our village hall is old, small and there is no car parking. It is difficult to heat. In 2005 I think people deserve something better on a colder winter night.

"Seagry is a very active village with 400 people and there is a flourishing playgroup which uses the hall as well as the Women's Institute. We are just starting and it will take a few years to build the new hall which will have parking for up to 30 cars."

Mr Kemp's wife Mary said the new hall would feature modern facilities such as disabled access, a toilet for people with disabilities and a larger kitchen.

It would be built from timber and clad in Bradstone to make it blend in with the countryside.

Mrs Kemp said: "The new village hall will be top of the range. People here are very enthusiastic about it and many have examined the plans."