PLANNING officers have recommended that a site inspection be held before a decision is taken on a proposed new village hall for Meldon, which has received ten objections.

Dartmoor Preservation Association has echoed the concerns of local residents by saying that the hall, which would cater for the whole of the Okehampton Hamlets parish, would be wrongly located in relation to the population, swamp the small community of Meldon and result in an unacceptable increase in traffic.

The proposal before Dartmoor National Park Authority tomorrow (Friday), which has received lottery funding, is for a single-storey building to replace the existing corrugated iron-clad village hall.

Placed on the site of the existing structure, the hall would be of a similar size although it would incorporate some additional facilities such as improved toilets, foyer, kitchen and storage.

Officers consider the proposed building to be pleasingly designed and would be a visual improvement on the current hall but feel a site inspection should be carried out given the strength of local views.

The application has been made by Meldon Village Hall Committee.