AFTER two years of consultation, Neston Memorial Hall is finally ready for refurbishment.

The hall committee hopes the first phase of the work to revamp the kitchen will be complete by the end of the summer.

Plans for the refurbishment were presented at the recent annual meeting and accepted on a unanimous vote.

Committee chairman Stuart Little said: "These plans have been an issue for several years following rejection of a previous application to the community fund for lottery money."

Over the past two years, the village hall management committee has embarked on detailed consultation with regular users and the wider community, seeking views on how the hall should be refurbished.

Mr Little said: "Opinions have ranged from the wild and wacky rebuild to the do nothing approach."

He said the option presented at the AGM represented the majority of views expressed and was aimed at refurbishing the hall to attract more occasional hires to secure the ongoing financial viability of the hall.

The plans also include a solar panel that would provide electricity for the whole building. In the long- term this would reduce the hall's utility bills considerably. The first stage of the programme is for the kitchen to be overhauled.

Money has been secured from Wiltshire County Council and North Wiltshire District Council under a scheme administered by the Community First organisation, based in Devizes.

The largest part of the refurbishment project will be to provide additional space for playgroup and drama groups.

Toilets will be refurbished and the existing meeting room will be extended. The main entrance will also be relocated to the recreation ground side.

"We are seeking community fund money for this part of the project. Corsham Town Council has been approached to provide part of the recreation ground as additional play space and access to the recreation ground," said Mr Little.

He said the hall management committee was also keen to support Neston Recycling Group, a village-led initiative aiming to make Neston the most environmentally friendly village in the UK.

Local energy conservation consultancy firm, Energy for Sustainable Development, has provided a study of options available for solar panels for the south facing part of the extension roof.