TEN years after the first public meeting to launch a village hall in Bowerhill, Melksham, the wait is over.

The delay in construction work has nearly ended and it is hoped that work will start in the spring.

Pam Hartley, chairman of Bowerhill village hall committee, said everyone was delighted that there was some solid news.

"We can't wait for things to happen. It will be the biggest party Bowerhill has ever seen," said Mrs Hartley.

Campaigners have been fundraising for the hall since 1978, five years after the former RAF site at Bowerhill was officially opened.

The long-awaited village hall is part of the new Bowerhill East housing development, which will bring more than 400 new people to the area.

Developers Bloor Homes and Westbury Homes have put up £252,644 while the community has raised more than £60,000 towards what is expected to be a £300,000-plus hall.

"This has been a very long haul but it now appears that something is happening. Agreements have been signed and we look forward to work being started," said Mrs Hartley.

Pat Tidy, planning officer for West Wiltshire District Council, confirmed that various conditions had been agreed and outline planning permission approved for the housing development.

The application was submitted in 1996.

Bloor Homes and Westbury Homes must hand over the first £100,000 towards the community hall within six weeks of starting building. Payments will follow over 12 months.

Planning permission for the village hall, which is expected to take six to nine months to build, has already been granted and was renewed two years ago.

Miss Tidy said: "We are now waiting for details from the developers and the application is going through the consultation stage."