By Craig Evry

TWO resignations, spoiled ballot papers and a heated debate have set the future of Codford Village Hall on a crash course with chaos.

In a situation threatening to mimic the presidential farce in America, hundreds of ballot papers look set to be burned after villagers called for a vote to be abandoned because they claim they had been misled about the options for the hall's future.

The village hall management committee has also been rocked by two shock resignations as chairman John Gibbens and secretary Ann Levick stood down.

More than 100 villagers attended the meeting in the village hall on Monday night organised by the parish council and village hall management committee.

Initially, the only options given to villagers by the parish council, based on a report by the hall's management committee, were to raise money through an increase in the parish precept, or the sale of a piece of village hall land to businessman David Webb.

Between sending the report to the parish council and the meeting, further options had been discovered by the management committee, including a county council initiative to help fund village halls and the possibility of a grant from the district council.

However, many residents had posted ballot papers before the meeting, not realising that there were more than two options available.

Acting chairman David Delius explained how an inadequate sewerage treatment had left the committee with a £16,000 debt and, despite £6,000 being paid off, wealthy villagers had to lend the committee £10,000.

This money is still outstanding and vital maintenance work of £4,000 is also needed.

Parish council chairman Romy Wyeth said the parish council did not want to increase the precept without consulting villagers first.

Many villagers spoke out against the sale of the land to Mr Webb, saying the village hall committee would lose a big chunk of its annual income if it sold.

Jed Davies said: "If you sell this piece of land, you are losing between 75 and 80 per cent of our profit. Burn the ballot papers before you even count them as they will give a false opinion."

A group of villagers agreed to set up a fundraising committee.