TRUSTEES of Whitchurch Village Hall are waiting with baited breath to see if an application for funding will be approved by West Devon Borough Council.

Fundraisers have raised a massive £43,000 towards a new hall, but desperately need support from the council .

If the borough agrees a request for £11,000 towards the new hall, the Community Council of Devon (CCD) is likely to contribute a similar amount.

Trustee Dick Spackman said: 'We are still sitting on our thumbs at the moment.

'We are looking to raise about £180,000 altogether, but not all of that is building costs, there are tables and chairs, and fitting-out costs.'

Mr Spackman said it was important to have the support of the local authority — two years ago the trustees lost out on £20,000 funding from the Foundation of Sport and the Arts because the borough did not put cash towards the project.

Mr Spackman said as soon as the trustees have received a revised building estimate from Farnhams of Yelverton, an application will be submitted to the Lottery Board.

The original, 'very good' estimate was submitted several years ago.

'They have been extremely kind in hanging on and waiting and waiting,' said Mr Spackman.

Linda Church, leisure officer at the borough, said a decision would be made 'very soon' on funding for Whitchurch Village Hall.

West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett is keen to see the project succeed.

Mr Burnett said he had been to Exeter twice in the last week to see the Community Council of Devon and the Lottery Board about accessing funding for a new hall in Whitchurch.

Local people had made an 'outstanding' effort with the project, he said.

'I am very keen to support this. What is particularly marvellous about this scheme is that the people of Whitchurch have raised so much money themselves.

'I have stressed this in preliminary discussions with the Lottery Board and this is becoming an increasingly important aspect to being successful in bids,' said Mr Burnett.

If the trustees are successful, the new village hall will be built on the site of the present building, which has deteriorated badly in recent years and is now considered beyond economic repair.