THE design of the proposed new village hall at Bridestowe was unveiled to residents at a meeting last week.

Chagford architect Allen Van der Steen has created an imaginative plan for the building which will be erected on the site of the existing ageing premises in the centre of the village.

The scheme, costing just over £442,000, makes use of Crandford Brook, which separates the hall site from the village sporting green.

The side adjacent to the brook will feature large windows and angled terracing providing space for outdoor activities connected with the building.

A bridge will connect the new hall to the sporting green.

The proposed hall, which has a large auditorium, smaller meeting room and many multi-purpose facilities, will be slate-roofed with rough rendered walls.

Despite the appalling weather last Thursday, more than 30 residents, including West Devon councillor John Hockridge, came to hear Mr Van der Steen explain the design and to view plans and illustrated impressions of the proposed building.

Hall project committee chairman David Porter said the hall committee had already received a £5,000 lottery award to pay for a feasibility study. It now hoped to attract a National Lottery grant of £407,694 to meet the lion's share of the total cost of £442,694.

The committee hopes to raise £20,000 within the community and to attract a £10,000 grant from West Devon Borough Council.

If all goes to plan, the hall will be open in the summer of 2002 — it is hoped the opening celebration might coincide with the building's major annual fundraising event, the ram roast.