BRIDESTOWE Village Hall management committee is increasing its options to achieve a new hall for the parish following two failed lottery applications.

The option to rebuild on the existing hall site in Tanyards Court is still a possibility, but at more than £500,000 funding is proving difficult.

Support has been received from West Devon and Torridge MP John Burnett, who is lobbying to obtain major cash from the lottery for hall projects in his constituency.

The old hall was closed last autumn after being condemned and the village is now without any facilities for community events.

However, a possible alternative site has been offered to the committee on the edge of the village which would involve selling the existing site and building a simpler and cheaper building.

Chairman of the committee David Porter said this in turn could provide a site in the village centre for development which could include affordable housing.

'None of this is written in stone and there are many negotiations, applications and procedures to be dealt with over the next few months,' he said.

'One of these procedures will be a public meeting to inform the people of Bridestowe and to ascertain views on this option,' he said. 'Another will be for outline planning permission which will be submitted quite soon.'

The committee unanimously decided to continue to explore this option and is optimistic of a successful outcome in its endeavours to build a new hall.